AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021A GUIDE FOR THOSE WORKING

WITH AND WITHIN THE AFRICAN UNION

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

First published in 2014 and reprinted annually as a revised edition

Eighth edition

© African Union Commission and New Zealand Crown Copyright Reserved 2021

ISSN: 2350-3319 (Print) ISSN: 2350-3335 (Online)

ISBN: 978-92-95119-56-7 (Print) ISBN: 978-92-95119-55-0 (Online)

Jointly published by the African Union Commission and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade/Manatū Aorere

African Union Commission PO Box 3243 Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area), W21K19, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Website: www.au.int Email: DIC@africa-union.org

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The African Union Handbook mobile app is available free from the Play Store (Android) or Apple Store

(iOS). A PDF version of this book is available on the African Union website www.au.int and the New Zealand

Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website www.mfat.govt.nz.

The African Union Commission (AUC) and New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade (MFAT)

shall not be under any liability to any person or organisation in respect of any loss or damage (including

consequential loss or damage), however caused, which may be incurred or which arises directly or

indirectly from reliance on information in this publication.

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Cover design and page 9 photo: African Union Commission Information and Communication Directorate.

3CONTENTSMEMBER STATES .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 5

FOREWORDS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 7

By the Chairperson of the African Union .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 7By the Chairperson of the African Union Commission .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. . 9By the New Zealand Minister of Foreign Affairs . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 11

AFRICAN UNION STRUCTURE .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 12

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION STRUCTURE. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 13

WHAT THIS BOOK DOES . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 14

INTRODUCTION .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 15

ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENT .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 32

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 42

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 50

SPECIALISED TECHNICAL COMMITTEES. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 66

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 74African Peace and Security Architecture .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 79

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 94Chairperson. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 95Deputy Chairperson .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 95Commissioners .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 96AUC Organisational Structure . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. 97Permanent Representational and Specialised Offices .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .111Special Representative and Liaison Offices .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .112High Representatives, Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the Chairperson of the AU Commission .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .115Other Bodies. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .116

PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .120

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COUNCIL .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .126

JUDICIAL, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL ORGANS AND BODIES .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .130African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .130African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .132African Court of Justice/African Court of Justice and Human Rights .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .134AU Commission on International Law. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .135AU Advisory Board on Corruption. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .137African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .139

4 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .144African Central Bank. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .144African Investment Bank .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .144African Monetary Fund .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .145

AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .148

REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .152

SPECIALISED AND TECHNICAL AGENCIES, TREATY BODIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .168

Trade and Economic Bodies . .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .168Education, Human Resources, Science and Technology Bodies.. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .171Energy and Infrastructure Bodies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .177Rural Economy and Agriculture Bodies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .185Security Bodies. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .190Social Affairs Bodies .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .193Other Bodies. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .198

PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE AU. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .202Partnership between the African Union and the United Nations .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .202African Development Bank (AfDB) Group .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .206Other Partnerships .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .209

BUDGET AND SCALE OF ASSESSMENT .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .214

ACRONYMS .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .244

INDEX .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .. .254

5MEMBER STATES

Note1 Some Member State names have changed since joining the OAU or AU.

African Union Member State names and abbreviationsThe full names on the left in the following list are the official names of Member States.1 The abbreviations are the names used in this handbook. The list also shows the date of joining the African Union (AU) or its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU).

Member State Abbreviation Date of joining the OAU or AU

People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria Algeria 25 May 1963

Republic of Angola Angola 11 February 1975

Republic of Benin Benin 25 May 1963

Republic of Botswana Botswana 31 October 1966

Burkina Faso Burkina Faso 25 May 1963

Republic of Burundi Burundi 25 May 1963

Republic of Cabo Verde Cabo Verde 18 July 1975

Republic of Cameroon Cameroon 25 May 1963

Central African Republic Central African Republic 25 May 1963

Republic of Chad Chad 25 May 1963

Union of the Comoros Comoros 18 July 1975

Republic of the Congo Congo Republic 25 May 1963

Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Côte d’Ivoire 25 May 1963

Democratic Republic of Congo DR Congo 25 May 1963

Republic of Djibouti Djibouti 27 June 1977

Arab Republic of Egypt Egypt 25 May 1963

Republic of Equatorial Guinea Equatorial Guinea 12 October 1968

State of Eritrea Eritrea 24 May 1993

Kingdom of Eswatini Eswatini 24 September 1968

Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia Ethiopia 25 May 1963

Gabonese Republic Gabon 25 May 1963

Republic of the Gambia Gambia 9 March 1965

Republic of Ghana Ghana 25 May 1963

Republic of Guinea Guinea 25 May 1963

Republic of Guinea-Bissau Guinea-Bissau 19 November 1973

Republic of Kenya Kenya 13 December 1963

Kingdom of Lesotho Lesotho 31 October 1966

Republic of Liberia Liberia 25 May 1963

Libya Libya 25 May 1963

Republic of Madagascar Madagascar 25 May 1963

Republic of Malawi Malawi 13 July 1964

6 Republic of Mali Mali 25 May 1963

Islamic Republic of Mauritania Mauritania 25 May 1963

Republic of Mauritius Mauritius August 1968

Kingdom of Morocco2 Morocco 1963/31 January 2017

Republic of Mozambique Mozambique 18 July 1975

Republic of Namibia Namibia June 1990

Republic of Niger Niger 25 May 1963

Federal Republic of Nigeria Nigeria 25 May 1963

Republic of Rwanda Rwanda 25 May 1963

Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic Sahrawi Republic 22 February 1982

Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe São Tomé and Príncipe 18 July 1975

Republic of Senegal Senegal 25 May 1963

Republic of Seychelles Seychelles 29 June 1976

Republic of Sierra Leone Sierra Leone 25 May 1963

Federal Republic of Somalia Somalia 25 May 1963

Republic of South Africa South Africa 6 June 1994

Republic of South Sudan South Sudan 27 July 2011

Republic of the Sudan Sudan 25 May 1963

Togolese Republic Togo 25 May 1963

Republic of Tunisia Tunisia 25 May 1963

Republic of Uganda Uganda 25 May 1963

United Republic of Tanzania Tanzania 25 May 1963

Republic of Zambia Zambia 16 December 1964

Republic of Zimbabwe Zimbabwe 18 June 1980

Other commonly used abbreviations

AU African UnionAUC African Union CommissionAssembly AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government (unless otherwise specified)Commission AU Commission (unless otherwise specified)Continent Continent and islands of AfricaOAU Organization of African UnityPRC AU Permanent Representatives CommitteePSC AU Peace and Security CouncilRECs Regional Economic CommunitiesRMs Regional MechanismsUN United Nations

A full list of acronyms is available at the end of this book.

Note2 Morocco left the AU’s predecessor, the OAU, in 1984. In September 2016, Morocco officially submitted a request to

accede to the AU Constitutive Act and become a member of the Union. The AU Assembly decided at its 28th Ordinary Session in January 2017 to admit Morocco as a new Member State (Assembly/AU/Dec.639(XXVIII)). Morocco deposited its instrument of accession to the Constitutive Act on 31 January 2017.

7FOREWORDBY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION

I am delighted to write this foreword as we begin a new year and as we look forward to the promise of a better future.

I am heartened by the solidarity among African countries in the face of the substantial challenges that we must confront. We continue to stand together in advancing our Agenda 2063 priority action plans. As part of these plans, we are working towards improved health, social welfare and economic growth, human development, boosting agricultural productivity, creating opportunities for our youth, gender equality, good governance, promoting peace and security, and investing in innovative technologies and infrastructure.

As we look back at the year 2020, we can take pride in the collaborative efforts of governments and citizens to confront and overcome the COVID-19 pandemic.

Day by day, across our continent, we worked together in unity to save lives and support the vulnerable. Collectively we came up with solutions; we adapted, reorganised and adopted new ways of doing business and living our lives.

We implemented a Joint Continental Strategy for COVID-19 through the establishment of the Africa Taskforce on Coronavirus. We undertook important initiatives such as the establishment of the African Union COVID-19 Response Fund and the launch of the Africa Medical Supplies Platform. We engaged with international financial institutions and donor partners to support African efforts on easing debt so as to mitigate against the economic effects caused by the pandemic.

It is through the unity and resilience of the people of Africa that we were able to endure the pandemic and its effects in 2020, and that will ensure we make further progress in 2021. Together, we will implement the largest vaccination campaign in our continent’s history, as we continue to take all the necessary health precautions, such as wearing masks, social distancing, quarantining and seeking early medical treatment, as advised by our health authorities.

In 2020 we continued in our efforts to Silence the Guns in Africa. Peace and stability are necessary for achieving the socio-economic goals of our Member States and creating the conducive environment for our citizens to thrive. In the spirit of Africa taking charge of its destiny and proposing African solutions to African issues, we ensured that, as a Union, we were at the forefront of addressing the various challenges to peace and security on the continent. We employed the structures of the African Union, including the Regional Economic Communities, to mediate in conflict resolution and seek diplomatic solutions to disputes.

We focused on improving the situation of African women and girls. With the declaration of the years 2020 to 2030 as the new Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion, African leaders made a commitment to actions for progressive gender inclusion towards sustainable development.

As we look towards 2021, I am heartened by the great promise of a better future for Africa.

8 This year sees the start of trading under the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), one of the flagship projects of Agenda 2063. This economic trading zone is a pillar for building the future we want. Beyond enhancing trade between African countries, the AfCFTA will encourage countries to dedicate national resources towards improving their areas of specialisation. This will enhance their competitiveness, and the expected boost in manufacturing and related services will promote industrialisation, create employment and reduce dependence on manufactured goods imported into the continent. The AfCFTA should free Africa from being a raw material supplier to the rest of the world and enable it to become a region that actively participates in world trade as a producer of goods and services.

This is the year in which we spotlight Africa’s vast and dynamic culture under the 2021 annual theme of Year of Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want. We will work with citizens and other stakeholders to ensure the necessary policies and investments are put in place to position the creative and cultural industries as catalysts for socio-economic development and African integration.

I wish to thank our development partners who support our various programmes. In particular, I wish to commend the Government of New Zealand for its continued support to the African Union Directorate of Information and Communication in the publication of this annual handbook, which is a key resource on the mandate and work of the African Union, its organs and institutions.

As a Union, we look forward to 2021 and working together to realise our goals for sustainable and inclusive growth and development as envisioned in Africa’s strategic development framework, Agenda 2063.

I wish you the very best of the New Year.

Asante Sana

H.E. Mr Matamela Cyril Ramaphosa PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION FEBRUARY 2020 TO FEBRUARY 2021

9FOREWORDBY THE CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

Warm greetings from the African Union Commission.

The work of the African Union under Agenda 2063 is to drive continental prosperity, peace and unity, and to project a strong African voice in the global arena through the collaborative efforts of our Member States and the hard work and determination of African citizens on the continent and in the diaspora. As we mark the end of the year 2020, we celebrate the milestones reached and acknowledge the challenges faced.

The year 2020 threw an extraordinary challenge at Africa and the world, that of the COVID-19 pandemic and its subsequent adverse impact on our economies and people. The Union, through our public health institution, the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), quickly organised itself to respond to this challenge and effectively supported Member States in their response, right from the beginning. The strong leadership by our Heads of State and Government helped us avoid the worst effects that were seen elsewhere in the world. The Union launched the African Union COVID-19 Response Fund to strengthen the continental response and mitigate its socio-economic and humanitarian impacts on the African population. Furthermore, to ensure adequate supplies of medicines and other medical supplies, the Africa Medical Supplies Platform was launched and the Union is actively engaged in efforts to acquire vaccines for distribution across the continent in 2021. In addition, Africa CDC and the AU Development Agency have embarked on the development and implementation of a fast-track Africa Emergency Ventilator Project and we will continue supporting Member States in their various response efforts.

As a result of the pandemic, delays and disruptions in the normal functioning of the Commission and other AU organs were encountered. In spite of these disruptions however, the AU continued to implement its projects in line with Agenda 2063.

Regarding the 2020 theme of the year, Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development, efforts were deployed towards the inculcation of a culture of peace and the creation of conducive conditions for a conflict-free continent. Through our various peacekeeping missions, as well as mediation and diplomatic efforts carried out in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities, we continue to support our Member States in seeking long-lasting solutions to issues that affect peace and stability on the continent. To ensure inclusion of women and youth in areas of peace and promotion of good governance, the African Women Leadership Network (AWLN) Governance Chapter, which will focus on increasing women’s participation in governance and politics, was launched; youth from across the continent were trained in skills on advocacy and peacebuilding; and seed funding to 12 Youth Projects from the five regions of Africa was mobilised from partners in support of these youth-led projects around peace and security.

The year 2020 witnessed progress on a number of key projects, including the approval of the new AU Commission operational structure in line with the institutional reform of the Union; the launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Secretariat in Accra, Ghana; the establishment of the African Business Council to enhance the voice of the private sector in trade policy making as well as the development of a strategy to improve domestic resources mobilisation; and address corruption and illicit financial flows (IFFs) in Africa.

10 I wish to congratulate and thank all the staff members of the Commission, who continued to work under very difficult conditions imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic to ensure that the Commission continued to meet its objectives for 2020.

A full report of the Commission’s work in 2020 is available at https://au.int/en/auc-chairperson-reports.

Our theme for 2021 is the Year of Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want. This is in recognition of the important role played by the creative and cultural industries in attaining the development objectives of Agenda 2063. Progress already witnessed in the promotion of these industries includes the development of the Implementation Guide of the Charter for African Cultural Renaissance; inclusion of the Great Museum of Africa as a flagship project of Agenda 2063; and the establishment of the African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC).

In 2021, a new Commission assumed office for a four-year mandate. I would like to thank the outgoing Commission members for their commitment to delivering the mandate of the Union and offering themselves in service to Africa. The African Union Commission End of Term Report is available at https://au.int/en/documents/20210203/african-union-commission-end-term-report-2017-2021.

We were happy to celebrate the arrival of the New Year with all our African and international citizens and partners, and wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2021.

H.E. Moussa Faki Mahamat CHAIRPERSON OF THE AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

11FOREWORDBY THE NEW ZEALAND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS

“Kotahi anō te kōhao o te ngira e kuhuna ai te miro mā, te miro whero, te miro pango, whai muri i āu kia mau ki te ture, te whakapono, me te aroha” – Pōtatau Te Wherowhero.

E ngā tini, e ngā mano, koutou katoa tēnā koutou!

To the many gathered here, greetings to you all.

I wanted to draw on the wisdom of an ancestral proverb which refers to the eye of the needle through which the white, the red and the black thread must pass, and we must remember to hold on to the spiritual laws of our forebears, to hope and to our love for each other.

The African Union theme for 2021 is Year of Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want.

This is a relevant theme as we consider opportunities to connect people and their communities. Aotearoa New Zealand is increasingly more diverse, and this is a positive signal of how as a young nation we continue to grow and learn from our multicultural communities. This rich diversity can be celebrated because our founding document the Treaty of Waitangi acknowledges tangata whenua (people of the land) and the importance of values, language, culture, customs and practices.

African communities are a small and active part of our Aotearoa New Zealand society, and the ability to celebrate and share culture and art is often reflected by those family traditions we all love – food, storytelling, art and culture. New Zealanders are better for it when they learn about other peoples, countries, cultures and languages and I am pleased to support this resource.

No reira tēnā koutou katoa. Therefore, greetings to you all.

Pai Mārire Goodness and peace

Hon. Nanaia Mahuta NEW ZEALAND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS / TE MINITA O TE MANATŪ AORERE

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tate

and

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ernm

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SE

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LY

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cial

ised

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hnic

al C

omm

ittee

s (S

TCs)

are

them

atic

co

mm

ittee

s on

key

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pro

ject

s an

d p

rogr

amm

es. S

TCs

are

resp

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to th

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ncil.

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pose

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on

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reas

of c

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tere

st to

Mem

ber

Sta

tes.

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res

pons

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embl

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ompo

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orei

gn m

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auth

oriti

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nate

d b

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the

gove

rnm

ents

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embe

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tate

s.E

xecu

tive

Cou

ncil

The

AU

’s o

rgan

for

the

prev

entio

n, m

anag

emen

t and

reso

lutio

n of

con

flict

s. C

ompo

sed

of 1

5 el

ecte

d M

embe

r S

tate

s.P

eace

& S

ecur

ity

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ncil

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C)

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taria

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uty

Cha

irper

son

and

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mis

sion

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ell a

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ican

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on C

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on (A

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tform

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om a

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ticip

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t. M

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rs a

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nate

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gisl

atur

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ir M

embe

r S

tate

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arlia

men

t (P

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fric

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nisa

tions

to c

ontr

ibut

e to

the

AU

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rinci

ples

, po

licie

s an

d p

rogr

amm

es. C

ompo

sed

of s

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l and

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iona

l gro

ups

from

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Mem

ber

Sta

tes.

Eco

nom

ic, S

ocia

l & C

ultu

ral C

ounc

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SO

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Org

ans

are

the:

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ican

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mis

sion

on

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an a

nd P

eopl

es’ R

ight

s (A

CH

PR

), A

fric

an C

ourt

on

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an a

nd

Peo

ples

’ Rig

hts

(AfC

HP

R),

AU

Com

mis

sion

on

Inte

rnat

iona

l Law

(AU

CIL

), A

U A

dvi

sory

Boa

rd o

n C

orru

ptio

n (A

UA

BC

) and

the

Afr

ican

Com

mitt

ee o

f Exp

erts

on

the

Rig

hts

and

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fare

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he C

hild

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ER

WC

).Ju

dic

ial,

Hum

an R

ight

s &

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al O

rgan

s

Pro

pose

d in

stitu

tions

are

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Afr

ican

Cen

tral

Ban

k, A

fric

an In

vest

men

t Ban

k an

d th

e A

fric

an M

onet

ary

Fund

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nanc

ial I

nsti

tuti

ons

Aim

s to

fost

er th

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pol

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tand

ard

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d p

ract

ices

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oliti

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nd e

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th

at le

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ccel

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eco

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row

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RM

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cono

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inte

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betw

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wid

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AFR

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CH

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14 WHAT THIS BOOK DOESThis handbook is published by the African Union Commission (AUC) in partnership with the New Zealand Government. It is intended as a ready reference guide for people working within the AU system, as well as the AU’s partners and wider civil society.

The book has at its heart information about the principal organs established by the AU Constitutive Act and subsequent protocols: the Assembly; Executive Council; Permanent Representatives Committee; Specialised Technical Committees; Peace and Security Council; African Union Commission; Pan-African Parliament; Economic, Social and Cultural Council; and judicial, human rights, legal and financial institutions. It also contains information about the specialised agencies and structures, as well as regional and other arrangements, including the Regional Economic Communities, which are the pillars of the AU and work closely with its institutions. Non-governmental organisations, inter-governmental organisations and political groups are not included, except where they have a formal agreement with the AU.

The handbook focuses on the AU’s current structures and organs, including those in the process of becoming operational. As many of the AU structures and organs are directly inherited from its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), key details about the original OAU structures and transition to the AU are included where possible.

The information in this book is intended to be accurate as at 28 February 2021, unless otherwise stated.

Internet, email and postal/physical addresses are included where possible, along with telephone and fax numbers. The primary contact details for AU Headquarters are:

PO Box 3243Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area)W21K19Addis AbabaEthiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 7844Website: www.au.int

The handbook project is managed by the Information and Communication Directorate at the African Union Commission.

Acknowledgements The publishers are indebted to the AU Member States, Commission staff and others from the many subsidiary and partner institutions who provided considerable assistance to ensure this book is as up to date and comprehensive as possible.

The AU Handbook mobile app is available free from the Play Store (Android) or Apple Store (iOS) – search on ‘African Union Handbook’. A PDF version of this book is available on the AU website www.au.int and the New Zealand Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade website www.mfat.govt.nz.

15INTRODUCTION

Note3 The 2003 Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act enters into force 30 days after the deposit of the instruments

of ratification by a two-thirds majority of Member States (article 13). As of December 2020, 50 Member States had signed the Protocol and 30 had deposited their instruments of ratification.

The African Union (AU) was officially launched in July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, following a decision in September 1999 by its predecessor, the Organization of African Unity (OAU), to create a new continental organisation to build on its work.

VisionThe AU vision is: An integrated, prosperous and peaceful Africa, driven by its own citizens and representing a dynamic force in the global arena. Agenda 2063, officially adopted by the AU Assembly in 2015, provides a collective vision and roadmap to build a prosperous and united Africa, based on shared values and a common destiny.

ObjectivesUnder article 3 of the Constitutive Act of the African Union (2000) and the Protocol to the Act (2003),3 the Union’s objectives are to:• Achieve greater unity and solidarity between African countries and the peoples of Africa• Defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States• Accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent• Promote and defend African Common Positions on issues of interest to the continent

and its peoples• Encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the United Nations Charter

and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights• Promote peace, security and stability on the continent• Promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good governance• Promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter

on Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments• Establish the necessary conditions that enable the continent to play its rightful role

in the global economy and in international negotiations• Promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well

as the integration of African economies• Promote cooperation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of African

peoples• Coordinate and harmonise policies between the existing and future Regional Economic

Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union• Advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular

in science and technology• Work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases

and the promotion of good health on the continent• Ensure the effective participation of women in decision-making, particularly in the political,

economic and socio-cultural areas• Develop and promote common policies on trade, defence and foreign relations to ensure

the defence of the continent and the strengthening of its negotiating positions• Invite and encourage the full participation of the African diaspora, as an important part

of the continent, in the building of the Union.

16 HistoryThe OAU was formed in 1963 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, by the 32 African states that had achieved independence at the time. A further 21 members joined gradually, reaching a total of 53 by the time of the AU’s launch in 2002. In 2011, South Sudan became the 54th Member State, and, in 2017, Morocco became the 55th Member State.4

The OAU’s main objectives were to: promote the unity and solidarity of African states; coordinate and intensify their cooperation and efforts to achieve a better life for the peoples of Africa; safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Member States; rid the continent of colonisation and apartheid; promote international cooperation within the United Nations framework; and harmonise members’ political, diplomatic, economic, educational, cultural, health, welfare, scientific, technical and defence policies. The OAU operated on the basis of its Charter and the 1991 Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (known as the Abuja Treaty).

Through the 1990s, leaders debated the need to amend the OAU’s structures to reflect the challenges of a changing world. The creation of the AU shifted focus from supporting liberation from colonialism and apartheid to spearheading Africa’s development and integration. The vision for the Union included accelerating the process of integration in Africa; supporting the empowerment of African states in the global economy; addressing the multifaceted social, economic and political problems facing the continent; and promoting peace, security, stability, democracy, good governance and human rights.

Three summits were held in the lead-up to the official launch of the AU, the:• Sirte Summit (1999), which adopted the Sirte Declaration calling for the establishment

of the AU • Lomé Summit (2000), which adopted the AU Constitutive Act• Lusaka Summit (2001), which drew the roadmap for implementation of the AU.

The Durban Summit (2002) launched the AU and convened its first Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

A significant number of OAU structures were carried forward into the AU, as were all treaties and conventions. The AU Constitutive Act and protocols also established a significant number of new structures, both at the level of major organs and through a range of new technical and subsidiary committees. Many of these have evolved since 2002 and some remain under development.

In January 2016, AU Assembly decisions included the need to revise and review the AU Constitutive Act “for it to be an effective legal instrument to accelerate, facilitate and deepen the efficiency and the integration process on the continent” (Assembly/AU/Dec.597(XXVI)).

Symbols The AU emblem comprises four elements. The palm leaves shooting up on either side of the outer circle stand for peace. The gold circle symbolises Africa’s wealth and bright future. The plain map of Africa without boundaries in the inner circle signifies African unity. The small interlocking red rings at the base of the emblem stand for African solidarity and the blood shed for the liberation of Africa.

Note4 Morocco left the OAU in November 1984. In September 2016, Morocco officially submitted a request to accede to the AU

Constitutive Act and become a member of the Union. The AU Assembly decided at its 28th Ordinary Session in January 2017 to admit Morocco as a new Member State (Assembly/AU/Dec.639(XXVIII)). Morocco deposited its instrument of accession to the Constitutive Act on 31 January 2017.

17The current African Union flag was adopted in July 2009 at the Assembly of Heads of State and Government 13th Ordinary Session, held in Sirte, Libya (Assembly/AU/Dec.267(XIII)). The design is a dark-green map of the African continent on a white sun, surrounded by a circle of five-pointed gold (yellow) stars, on a dark-green field. The green background symbolises the hope of Africa, and the 55 stars represent Member States.

Anthem The AU Anthem Let us all Unite and Celebrate Together is included in the appendices section of this handbook and is on the AU website www.au.int (follow the tab ‘Who we are’).

LanguagesUnder article 11 of the Protocol to the AU Constitutive Act, the official languages of the AU and all its institutions are Arabic, English, French, Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and any other African language. The AU’s working languages are Arabic, English, French and Portuguese.5

Operating structureThe AU’s key decision and policy organs are the:

Assembly of Heads of State and Government. The Assembly is the AU’s supreme policy and decision-making organ. It comprises all Member State Heads of State and Government.

Executive Council. The Executive Council coordinates and takes decisions on policies in areas of common interest to Member States. It is responsible to the Assembly. It considers issues referred to it and monitors the implementation of policies formulated by the Assembly. The Executive Council is composed of foreign ministers or such other ministers or authorities as are designated by the governments of Member States.

Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC). The Committee is charged with the responsibility of preparing the work of the Executive Council and acting on the Executive Council’s instructions. It comprises Permanent Representatives to the Union and other plenipotentiaries of Member States.

Specialised Technical Committees (STCs). Thematic committees are provided for under the AU Constitutive Act and are responsible to the Executive Council. They comprise Member State ministers or senior officials.

Peace and Security Council (PSC). The PSC is the AU’s organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. It comprises 15 elected Member States.

African Union Commission (AUC). The Commission is the AU’s Secretariat. It is based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is composed of an elected chairperson, deputy chairperson and six commissioners, and staff.6

In January 2016, Executive Council decisions directed that all AU organs shall, where applicable, have two representatives from each of the five African regions and one floating seat rotating among the regions, and that at least one member of each region shall be a woman (EX.CL/Dec.907(XXVIII)Rev.1).

Notes5 In February 2020, the AU Assembly urged Member States and the Commission to operationalise the use of Spanish as a

working language (Assembly/AU/Dec.794(XXXIII)). In February 2021, the AU Assembly urged the Commission to make Kiswahili a working language and to promote Kiswahili as a language of wider communication in Africa (Assembly/AU/Dec.796(XXXIV)).

6 In November 2018, the AU Assembly decided to reduce the number of commissioners from eight to six from 2021 (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI)). Elections for the commissioners were held during the February 2021 Assembly Summit. See the AUC chapter for more information.

18 Regional groups AU Member States are divided into the following five geographic regions. The groups were defined by the OAU in 1976 (CM/Res.464QCXVI).

Central Africa

Note7 UMA signed the Protocol on Relations between the RECs and the AU in 2018.

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo Republic

DR Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

São Tomé and Príncipe

Eastern AfricaComoros

Djibouti

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Kenya

Madagascar

Mauritius

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Tanzania

Uganda

Northern AfricaAlgeria

Egypt

Libya

Mauritania

Morocco

Sahrawi Republic

Tunisia

Southern AfricaAngola

Botswana

Eswatini

Lesotho

Malawi

Mozambique

Namibia

South Africa

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Western AfricaBenin

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Côte d’Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Regional Economic Communities (RECs)The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are regional groupings of African states and are the pillars of the AU. All were formed prior to the launch of the AU. The RECs have developed individually and have differing roles and structures. Generally, the purpose of the RECs is to facilitate regional economic integration between members of the individual regions and through the wider African Economic Community (AEC), which was established under the Abuja Treaty (1991). This Treaty, which has been in operation since 1994, ultimately seeks to create an African common market using the RECs as building blocks. The AU recognises eight RECs:

Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)7

Algeria

Libya

Mauritania

Morocco

Tunisia

19Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Burundi

Comoros

DR Congo

Djibouti

Egypt

Eritrea

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Kenya

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Sudan

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD) Benin

Burkina Faso

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Côte d’Ivoire

Djibouti

Egypt

Eritrea

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Libya

Mali

Mauritania

Morocco

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Sudan

Togo

Tunisia

East African Community (EAC)Burundi

Kenya

Rwanda

South Sudan

Tanzania

Uganda

Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Angola

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo Republic

DR Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Rwanda

São Tomé and Príncipe

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Benin

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Côte d’Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)Djibouti

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Kenya

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Uganda

Southern African Development Community (SADC)Angola

Botswana

Comoros

DR Congo

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

20 Observers Non-governmental organisations, non-African states, regional integration and international organisations can apply for observer status or accreditation to the AU. The Executive Council adopted the criteria for granting observer status and the system of accreditation in its decision 230(VII) of July 2005, as set out in document EX.CL/195(VII) Annex V. See the Partnerships chapter for a list of non-African states and organisations accredited to the AU. The Assembly recognises representatives of the African diaspora8 invited to attend Assembly sessions as observers (Assembly/AU/Res.1(XVIII) of January 2012).

Note8 In January 2008, the Executive Council suggested that the African diaspora be treated as Africa’s sixth region and its

participation in the AU’s organs and activities be strengthened (EX.CL/Dec.406(XII)). The Assembly has recognised the diaspora as a substantive entity contributing to the economic and social development of the continent and has invited its representatives as observers to Assembly sessions (see Assembly/AU/Res.1(XVIII) of January 2012).

21Agenda 2063Agenda 2063 is Africa’s strategic framework that aims to deliver on the goals of inclusive and sustainable development and is a concrete manifestation of the pan-African drive for unity, self-determination, freedom, progress and collective prosperity pursued under Pan-Africanism and African Renaissance. It is anchored on the AU Constitutive Act, AU vision, AU Assembly 50th Anniversary Solemn Declaration of 2013 and seven African aspirations for 2063, and sets out a national, regional and continental blueprint for progress. Agenda 2063 was adopted by the AU Assembly on 31 January 2015 at its 24th Ordinary Session (Assembly/AU/Dec.565(XXIV)). In January 2016, the Assembly reiterated that Agenda 2063 is a common continental framework for socio-economic development (Assembly/AU/Dec.588(XXVI)).

The Seven Aspirations of Agenda 2063• A prosperous Africa based on inclusive growth and sustainable development• An integrated continent, politically united, based on the ideals of Pan-Africanism and the

vision of Africa’s renaissance• An Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law• A peaceful and secure Africa• An Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, values and ethics• An Africa whose development is people-driven, relying on the potential of African people,

especially its women and youth, and caring for children • Africa as a strong, united, resilient and influential global player and partner.

Agenda 2063 is divided into a series of five 10-year plans over the 50-year horizon of its timeframe. The purpose for developing the 10-year plans is to:• Identify priority areas, set specific targets, define strategies and policy measures required

to implement the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) of Agenda 2063• Bring to fruition the fast-track programmes and initiatives outlined in the AU Assembly

Malabo Decisions of June 2014 to provide the big push and breakthroughs for Africa’s economic and social transformation

• Provide information to all key stakeholders at the national, regional and continental levels on the expected results/outcomes for the first 10 years of the plan and on the roles/assignment of responsibilities in its implementation, monitoring and evaluation

• Outline the strategies required to ensure availability of resources and capacities together with citizens’ engagement in the implementation of the first 10-year plan.

Agenda 2063 has 15 fast-track or ‘flagship’ projects that have been identified as key to accelerating Africa’s economic growth and development as well as promoting a common identity by celebrating Africa’s history and vibrant culture.

Flagship Projects of Agenda 2063Integrated High-Speed Train NetworkAims to connect all African capitals and commercial centres.

The AUC and the National Development and Reform Commission of China signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) on an African integrated high-speed train network (AIHSRN) in January 2015. The two parties agreed to prepare a Joint Africa–China Vision 2063 of the AIHSRN. A Joint Africa–China Five-Year Action Plan (2016–20) was agreed on 5 October 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The first phase was a detailed scoping study (DSS), December 2018 to July 2019, to focus on: developing the first 10-year project implementation plan; identifying and prioritising two to three regional pilot projects; and preparing terms of reference to provide the basis for further

22 consultation with national and continental stakeholders for the second phase of the study. The second phase is a comprehensive feasibility study including detailed engineering design and preparation of tender documents for pilot projects.

Following the conclusion of the scoping study, in 2020 the AU launched a call for a contracting a firm to conduct a financial and technical, legal and institutional audit of the African Union of Railways, with a view to its revitalisation.

An AIHSRN project steering committee, chaired by the AUC, has been established to guide implementation of the project. The AU Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) serves as the Secretariat. Committee members include the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the African Development Bank (AfDB) and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The first meeting of the Steering Committee was held in June 2019 in Dakar, Senegal.

Pan African Virtual and e-University (PAVeU) Aims to use information communications technology (ICT)-based programmes to increase access to tertiary and continuing education in Africa so as to accelerate development of human capital, science and technology, and innovation.

The January 2018 AU Summit decided that the Pan African Virtual and e-University (PAVeU) would be an open, distance and e-learning (ODeL) arm of the Pan African University (PAU), and would be hosted at the PAU rectorate headquarters in Yaoundé, Cameroon. The project was relocated to Yaoundé in 2018.

The PAVeU project implementation framework has been developed to guide the implementation of the e-University in terms of its mission and scope of work, principles and core values, content delivery modes, scope of curriculum, modes of teaching and learning, access requirements, assessment modes, and for accreditation and quality assurance. In addition, the framework begins to address a possible business plan and the financial sustainability of the e-University. It includes guidelines on the University’s management structures, staffing and potential partnerships with other role players. PAVeU was officially launched in December 2019. In 2020, PAVeU launched four course programmes: Introduction to Virtualisation; Entrepreneurship Knowledge and Skills and Digital Literacy with Cloud Computing; Skills for Employability; and Media and Information Literacy.

African Commodities Strategy The Strategy aims to enable African countries to add value, extract higher rents from their commodities, integrate into the global value chains, and promote vertical and horizontal diversification anchored in value addition and local content development. Additionally, it aims to transform Africa from simply being a raw-materials supplier for the rest of the world into a continent that actively uses its own resources to ensure the economic development of Africans. The draft strategy was developed in 2016 and focuses on energy, agriculture and cross-cutting strategies dealing with mining and industrialisation. Sensitisation and awareness activities with stakeholders have been carried out in more than 30 countries from the five AU regions and with Regional Economic Communities (RECs) that are part of the campaign. The objective of the campaign is to incorporate key stakeholder input and buy-in before the document is presented to the AU Assembly for endorsement.

African Economic ForumA multi-stakeholder meeting that brings together the African political leadership, the private sector, academia and civil society to reflect on how to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation by harnessing its vast resources to enhance the development of the African people.

23The first African Economic Platform was held from 20 to 22 March 2017, in Mauritius, to reflect on how to accelerate Africa’s economic transformation through the implementation of Agenda 2063. In July 2017, the AU Assembly decided that a tripartite summit (Member States, academia and private sector) on education and skills development, science, technology and innovation should be convened before the second African Economic Platform.

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)Aims to significantly accelerate growth of intra-African trade and use trade more effectively as an engine of growth and sustainable development, by doubling intra-African trade and strengthening Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations. Trading under the Agreement began on 1 January 2021.

The AfCFTA Agreement was adopted and opened for signature on 21 March 2018 at the 10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly, held in Kigali, Rwanda (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(X)). The Agreement entered into force on 30 May 2019 following the required minimum number of 22 instruments of ratification deposited by AU Member States. As at 5 February 2021, 36 countries had deposited their instruments of ratification. The operational phase of the AfCFTA was launched during the July 2019 12th AU Extraordinary Summit, held in Niger, through the adoption of five key instruments: rules of origin; tariff concessions; online mechanism on monitoring, reporting and elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs); the pan-African payment and settlement system; and the African Trade Observatory. The 13th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly, held by videoconference on 5 December 2020, underscored the urgent need for Member States to kick-start trading activities under the Agreement.

The AfCFTA trade in goods online tool/mechanism for elimination of NTBs and the dashboard of the AU Trade Observatory website portal are up and running. Through these portals Member States will upload their initial tariff offers and share information to boost intra-African trade.

The AfCFTA Secretariat is based in Accra, Ghana. See the AfCFTA section for more information, as well as the AfCFTA website https://afcfta.au.int/en.

African Passport and Free Movement of People Aims to fast-track continental integration by removing restrictions on Africans’ ability to travel, work and live within their own continent.

The African Passport was launched symbolically at the AU Assembly Summit in July 2016, in Kigali, Rwanda. In July 2018, chiefs of immigration from AU Member States met in Nairobi, Kenya, to review the draft guidelines for the design, production and issuance of the African Passport.

A meeting of experts from Member States was held from 30 August to 2 September 2017 in Port Louis, Mauritius, to consider the draft Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right to Residence and Right of Establishment in Africa and its draft implementation plan. During the Extraordinary Summit on the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), held in Kigali, Rwanda, in March 2018, 32 of the 55 AU Member States signed the Free Movement Protocol.

As of February 2021, Rwanda, Mali, São Tomé and Príncipe and Niger had ratified the Free Movement Protocol. The Protocol enters into force 30 days after the 15th instrument of ratification has been received.

24 Silencing the Guns in AfricaEnding all wars, civil conflicts, gender-based violence and violent conflicts, and preventing genocide.

In January 2017, the Assembly endorsed the AU Master Roadmap of Practical Steps for Silencing the Guns in Africa by 2020 (Assembly/AU/Dec.630(XXVIII)). The inaugural roadmap implementation report was presented by the Peace and Security Council (PSC) in July 2017. The Assembly called on Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) to strengthen their accountability mechanisms, and, amongst other things, stressed the importance of promoting the involvement of youth and women in addressing the problems of proliferation and the use and movement of illegal weapons and illicit goods. In addition, the Assembly declared the month of September of each year as Africa Amnesty Month for surrender and collection of illegally owned weapons/arms (Assembly/AU/Dec.645(XXIX)).

The AU Executive Council adopted the theme of the year for 2020 as: Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development. In December 2020, the Silencing the Guns in Africa initiative was extended for another 10 years (2020–30) (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XIV)).

Grand Inga Dam Project Expected to generate 43,200 megawatts (MW) of power to support current regional power pools, and for their combined service to transform Africa from traditional to modern sources of energy and ensure clean and affordable electricity.

The Inga 3 hydropower project has increased the concept from 4800 MW to 12,000 MW for an investment cost of US$18 billion. The combined capacity of Inga 1 and 2, built in the 1970s and 1980s, is 1775 MW.

Pan-African e-Network (PAeN) Aims to put in place policies and strategies that will lead to transformative e-applications and services in Africa, especially the intra-African broadband terrestrial infrastructure and in cybersecurity, to make the information revolution the basis for service delivery in the bio- and nanotechnology industries and, ultimately, transform Africa into an e-society.

The Network has been installed in 48 AU Member States: Benin, Botswana, Burkina Faso, Burundi, Cameroon, Cabo Verde, Central African Republic, Chad, Congo Republic, Comoros, Côte d’Ivoire, DR Congo, Djibouti, Egypt, Eritrea, Eswatini, Ethiopia, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Kenya (under relocation), Lesotho, Liberia, Libya, Madagascar, Malawi, Mali, Mauritania, Mauritius, Mozambique, Namibia, Niger, Nigeria, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Senegal, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Sudan, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Uganda, Zambia and Zimbabwe.

As of September 2019, achievements included: 22,000 students had obtained degrees in various undergraduate and graduate disciplines; 770 annual tele-medicine consultations were carried out; and 6700 continuous medical education (CME) sessions had been held for nurses and doctors.

Africa Outer Space Programme Aims to strengthen Africa’s use of outer space technology to bolster its development in key fields such as agriculture, disaster management, remote sensing, climate forecast, banking and finance, as well as defence and security.

In January 2016, the AU Assembly adopted the space policy and strategy, and requested the Commission to carry out consultations to evaluate the legal, structural and

25financial implications for the African Space Agency, which was submitted to Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) sub-committees for consideration (Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI)). In January 2018, the Assembly adopted the Statute of the African Space Agency (Assembly/AU/Dec.676(XXX)), which seeks to establish the Agency as an organ of the African Union. The Commission then carried out an assessment and evaluation of candidate countries that offered to host the African Space Agency, and in February 2019 the Assembly decided that the Agency will be hosted by Egypt (Assembly/AU/Dec.748(XXXII)).

The Commission, in consultation with Egypt, is working to engage national space agencies and other space institutions in Member States to agree on a detailed implementation and operationalisation framework with clear timelines, targets and deliverables.

Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)Aims to ensure intra-regional connectivity between the cities of Africa and create a single unified air transport market in Africa as an impetus to the continent’s economic integration and growth agenda. SAATM provides for the full liberalisation of intra-African air transport services in terms of market access and traffic rights for scheduled and freight air services by eligible airlines, thereby improving air services’ connectivity and air carrier efficiencies.

SAATM was launched during the January 2018 AU Assembly Summit (Assembly/AU/Dec.665(XXX)). As of February 2021, 29 AU Member States covering almost 80 percent of intra-African air traffic had signed the Solemn Commitment to establish the SAATM; 18 AU Member States had signed a memorandum of implementation (MoI) to ensure the removal of any air service agreement restrictions that are not in compliance with the Yamoussoukro Decision (on the liberalisation of air transport in Africa); and 10 out of the 29 SAATM states had implemented all the SAATM concrete measures required by the African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC). Furthermore, 10 Member States had signed new bilateral air services agreements that are compliant with the Yamoussoukro Decision.

Continental Financial Institutions Aims to accelerate integration and socio-economic development of the continent through the establishment of organisations that will play a pivotal role in the mobilisation of resources and management of the African financial sector. The financial institutions are the African Investment Bank (AIB) and Pan African Stock Exchange (PASE), the African Monetary Fund (AMF) and the African Central Bank (ACB). As of February 2021, a comprehensive study was under way to establish the challenges of signing and ratifying the legal instruments.

See the chapter on Financial Institutions for more information.

Great Museum of AfricaAims to create awareness about Africa’s vast, dynamic and diverse range of cultural artefacts and the influence Africa has had, and continues to have, on the various cultures of the world in areas such as art, music, language and science. The Great Museum of Africa will be a focal centre for preserving and promoting African cultural heritage.

The AUC met with the Government of Algeria in April 2017 to discuss the establishment of a technical advisory committee to develop an implementation roadmap for the Great Museum of Africa. AU Member States have been encouraged to provide financial support for construction of the museum. To harness the benefits of the creative industry, AU Member States, during the second Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Youth, Culture and Sports, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 2016, endorsed the establishment of the Great Museum of Africa by 2022, to be based in Algiers, Algeria. More recently, a business proposal by the Technical and Advisory Committee is to be finalised and presented to potential partners. The Host Agreement between the Government of Algeria and the AUC, including the legal status of the institution, is also to be finalised.

26 Cyber SecurityAims to ensure that Africa incorporates in its development plans the rapid changes brought about by emerging technologies, and to ensure that these technologies are used for the benefit of African individuals, institutions and nation states by ensuring data protection and safety online. The Cyber Security project is guided by the AU Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection.

The AUC adopted the Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, in 2014. As of September 2019, 14 countries had signed the Convention: Benin, Chad, Comoros, Congo Republic, Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritania, Mozambique, Rwanda, São Tomé and Príncipe, Sierra Leone, Togo, Tunisia and Zambia. Five Member States had ratified the Convention: Ghana, Guinea-Bissau, Mauritius, Namibia and Senegal. The Convention will come into force 30 days after the deposit of 15 instruments of ratification.

The AUC developed data protection guidelines and launched them in May 2018 during the Africa Internet Summit in Dakar, Senegal. In October 2018, the first African forum dedicated to cybercrime was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in collaboration with the US Department of Justice. Capacity building workshops were also held on cyber diplomacy, strategy and legislation. In addition, an African cybersecurity expert group is being formed to advise the AUC on international discussions on cybersecurity and cybercrime, and to exchange best practice information. Many African countries are at an early stage of developing their cyber strategies and are drafting and adopting cyber laws. As of February 2021, 18 countries had national certifications.

Encyclopaedia Africana Project (EAP) The Encyclopaedia Africana aims to provide an authoritative resource on the authentic history of Africa and African life. The Encyclopaedia provides Africans a body of truth to guide and unite them in their development, with foundations in all aspects of African life including history, legal matters, economics, religion, architecture and education as well as the systems and practices of African societies. The Secretariat of the EAP was established in 1962 by the Government of Ghana, and the EAP was added to the Agenda 2063 flagship projects by the February 2019 AU Assembly Summit (Assembly/AU/Dec.732(XXXII)). The Project’s institutionalisation and advancement as a continental initiative are at the centre of its activities.

See www.au.int/agenda2063 for more information about Agenda 2063.

27Institutional ReformIn 2016, African leaders decided that institutional reform of the African Union was urgent and necessary, given the role the AU is expected to play in driving and achieving the African Agenda 2063 vision of inclusive economic growth and development. Rwandan President Paul Kagame was mandated by the AU Assembly in July 2016 to lead the process (see Assembly/AU/Dec.606(XXVII) of July 2016, Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) of January 2017, Assembly/AU/Dec.650(XXIX) of July 2017, and Assembly/AU/Dec.690(XXXI) of July 2018).

Following a review of various studies as well as consultation with Member States and stakeholders, the reforms advisory team concluded that the AU needed to reposition itself and ensure it had the requisite institutional capacity and capabilities, given the evolving economic, political and social needs of the continent.

Recommendations for the proposed reforms, as noted in Assembly decision 635 of January 2017, are in the following five areas:• Focusing on key priorities with continental scope• Realigning AU institutions, in order to deliver against those priorities• Connecting the AU to its citizens• Managing the business of the AU efficiently and effectively at both the political and

operational levels• Financing the AU sustainably and with the full ownership of Member States.

The Assembly also decided, amongst other things, that the AUC should put in place a reform implementation unit (RIU) within the Bureau of the incoming Chairperson of the Commission, to be responsible for the day-to-day coordination and implementation of the Assembly’s decision on reforms (see Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) of January 2017 and Assembly/AU/Dec.650(XXIX) of July 2017).

In January 2018, the AU Assembly decided that further consultations would be held to deepen consensus; that the Reform Troika (the previous, current and incoming AU Chairpersons) would be expanded to include the Assembly Bureau; and that 15 Ministers of Foreign Affairs, three per region, would play an advisory role in the reform implementation process (Assembly/AU/Dec.687(XXX)). In addition, the Assembly confirmed that, from 2019, it would meet in ordinary session once a year, rather than twice. In place of the June/July session, the Assembly Bureau would hold a coordination meeting with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with the participation of the RECs’ Chairpersons, AU Commission and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) (Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) of January 2017). The first coordination meeting was held on 8 July 2019, in Niamey, Niger (see MYCM/Decl.1(I) of July 2019). The January 2018 Summit also made decisions on progressing:• Equal representation of women and men• Increasing representation of youth and financing of youth empowerment programmes• Delegating budget adoption powers and functions to the Executive Council• Financing of the Union.

In July 2018, the Assembly asked the AUC to finalise proposals and recommendations based on initial findings on the Pan-African Parliament (PAP), Peace and Security Council (PSC), African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR), African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR), African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) and the African Union Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC). The Assembly also asked the AUC to implement reform of the AUC, with a view to strengthening the overall administrative, operational and procedural effectiveness of the Commission. In addition, the Assembly decided to convene an extraordinary session of the Assembly on the institutional reform process on 17 and 18 November 2018 at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Assembly/AU/Dec.690(XXXI)).

28 The November 2018 Extraordinary Session decided, amongst other things, that, from 2021, the AU Commission shall be composed of eight elected positions: the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and six Commissioners, instead of eight Commissioners (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI)).

The Assembly also decided to enhance the transparency and meritocracy of the selection process, and that the new process shall come into effect at the end of the four-year tenure of the 2017–21 Commission. In addition, the Assembly mandated the Chairperson of the Commission to develop a new departmental structure that is “lean and performance-orientated”, and delegated the Executive Council to adopt the new structure at its 35th Ordinary Session in July 2019. The Executive Council subsequently asked AU Member States to submit their inputs on the proposed AUC departmental structures so that detailed deliberations could take place (see Executive Council Annex I of July 2019).

For more information about institutional reform, see the AU website, https://au.int/AUReforms. For more information about the new Commission structure, see the chapter on the African Union Commission.

Financing the UnionThe AU Assembly of Heads of State and Government has taken a series of key decisions in recent years about financing the Union, including the:• January and June 2015 Addis Ababa and Johannesburg Summit decisions, which directed

that Member States would fund 100 percent of the operational budget, 75 percent of the programme budget and 25 percent of the peace support operations budget (Assembly/AU/Dec.561(XXIV) and Assembly/AU/Dec.578(XXV)).

• July 2016 Kigali Summit decision 605(XXVII), which followed work on options to resolve a significant funding gap. The purpose of the decision was to provide reliable and predictable funding, reduce dependency on partners, and relieve pressure on Member States. The decision included:(i) Reaffirming decision 578(XXV) of June 2015, which included targets for Member

States to finance 100 percent of the AU operational budget, 75 percent of the programme budget and 25 percent of the peace support operations budget, phased in over five years from January 2016

(ii) Instituting and implementing a 0.2 percent levy on all eligible goods imported into the continent to finance the AU operational, programme and peace support operations budgets, starting from 2017

(iii) Endowing the Peace Fund with $325 million from the levy in 2017, raised in equal contributions from each of the five AU regions ($65 million each), rising to $400 million in 2020.

• January 2018 Addis Ababa Summit decision 687(XXX), which was part of decisions on institutional reform, and included:(i) Expanding the Committee of Ten Finance Ministers to 15 (F15), and endorsing

the Committee’s oversight role and participation in the budget process(ii) Adopting nine ‘golden rules’, to provide a framework for financial management

and accountability principles at the African Union(iii) Adopting the Instrument Relating to the Enhanced Governance and Management

Structure of the Peace Fund. • February 2019 Niamey Summit, which decided, amongst other things:

(i) To maintain the scale of assessment tier system but adjust the scale so that no country shall pay less than US$350,000 or more than US$35,000,000 as a contribution for the regular budget and the Peace Fund combined

29(ii) That the 2020 regular budget would be reduced by US$32 million compared with the 2019 regular budget (see Assembly/AU/Dec.733(XXXII) and Assembly/AU/Dec.734(XXXII)).

See the Budget chapter for more information.

Since the revitalisation of the Peace Fund in 2016, the collection towards the full endowment of US$400 million had reached US$177 million as at 15 October 2020 and almost US$205 million at the time of the AU Assembly Summit in February 2021. The target year for full endowment remains 2023. (See Assembly/AU/Dec.752(XXXIII) and Assembly/AU/Dec.755(XXXIII) of February 2020, EX.CL/Dec.1100(XXXVII) of October 2020 and Assembly/AU/Dec.802(XXXIV) of February 2021.)

See https://au.int/en/aureforms/financing for more information about financing of the Union.

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) Agreement is designed to significantly accelerate intra-African trade, use trade more effectively as an engine of growth and sustainable development, and strengthen Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations.

Trading under the Agreement began on 1 January 2021. Trading was to have started on 1 July 2020 but was delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. As at 5 February 2021, 54 Member States had signed the Agreement, 36 had deposited their instruments of ratification, and 41 Member States and customs unions had submitted their tariff offers, including the East African Community (EAC) and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS).

The 13th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly, held by videoconference on 5 December 2020 to discuss the historic economic integration Agreement, decided that the exchange of tariff concessions between State Parties will be conditioned by the principle of reciprocity in terms of product line coverage and tariff reduction schedules that are aligned with the agreed modalities. Heads of State and Government endorsed the declaration on the Risk of Investor–State Dispute Settlement (ISDS) with respect to COVID-19 pandemic-related measures, as adopted by AU Ministers of Trade (AMOT), and the establishment of the African Business Council (AfBC), which is part of the AfCFTA Architecture. They also underscored the urgent need for Member States to kick-start trading activities under the Agreement.

The AfCFTA Agreement was adopted and opened for signature on 21 March 2018 at the 10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly, held in Kigali, Rwanda (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(X)). During the 2018 opening session, 47 Member States signed the Kigali Declaration launching the AfCFTA Agreement and 44 Member States signed the AfCFTA Agreement. The Agreement entered into force on 30 May 2019 following the deposit of the required minimum number of 22 instruments of ratification deposited by AU Member States.

The African Union launched the operational phase of the AfCFTA on 7 July 2019 at its 12th Extraordinary Summit, held in Niamey, Niger (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XII)), and announced the selection of Ghana to host the AfCFTA Secretariat.

The five key instruments adopted by the Assembly in July 2019 were the: rules of origin; tariff concessions; online mechanism on monitoring, reporting and elimination of non-tariff barriers (NTBs); Pan-African payment and settlement system; and African Trade Observatory information portal.

30 In February 2020, the Assembly appointed Wamkele Mene of South Africa as Secretary-General of AfCFTA (Assembly/AU/Dec.751(XXXIII)). The Secretariat building in Accra, Ghana, was officially opened in August 2020. The Secretariat facilitates the efficient conduct of business of the AfCFTA, including developing the working programme and the annual budget, and implementing the decisions of AU Ministers and Heads of State and Government.

The AfCFTA will be one of the largest free trade areas since the formation of the World Trade Organization (WTO), given Africa’s population of 1.2 billion people, which is expected to grow to 2.5 billion by 2050. Some of its expected benefits include:• Increasing trade among African countries, which currently ranges between 15 and

18 percent• Stimulating production through the development of regional value chains to ensure

that manufacturing, agricultural processing and other activities across the continent are stimulated to supply the market

• Strengthening the capacities of African companies to access and supply world markets• Strengthening Africa’s economic and commercial diplomacy.

See https://au.int/en/treaties for the full AfCFTA Agreement and the ratification status list. Also see https://au.int/cfta for more information about AfCFTA.

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

ASSEMBLY

32 ASSEMBLY OF HEADS OF STATE AND GOVERNMENTThe Assembly is the African Union’s (AU’s) supreme organ and comprises Heads of State and Government from all 55 Member States. It determines the AU’s policies, establishes its priorities, adopts its annual programme and monitors the implementation of its policies and decisions.

In addition, the Assembly: • Elects the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC)• Appoints the AUC Commissioners and determines their functions and terms of office • Admits new members to the AU• Adopts the AU budget• Takes decisions on important AU matters• Amends the Constitutive Act in conformity with the laid-down procedures• Interprets the Constitutive Act • Approves the structure, functions and regulations of the AU Commission• Determines the structure, functions, powers, composition and organisation of the

Executive Council.

The Assembly can create any committee, working group or commission as it deems necessary. It can also delegate its powers and functions to other AU organs, as appropriate.

On peace and security matters, the Assembly delegated its powers to the Peace and Security Council (PSC) when the Council became operational in 2004. The Council was established in 2003 to be the standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts (Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act, article 9). See the PSC chapter for more information.

Provisions governing the Assembly’s composition, functions and powers, voting and procedures are contained in articles 6 to 9 of the Constitutive Act and the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act. Section 1, rule 4 of the Assembly Rules of Procedure, as amended in 2007, elaborates on the Assembly’s functions and powers.

In October 2020, the Executive Council provisionally adopted amended Rules of Procedure of the Assembly, to align them with institutional reform, for consideration and final adoption by the Assembly (see EX.CL/Dec.1099(XXXVII) of October 2020, Assembly/AU/Dec.757(XXXIII) of February 2020 and Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI) of November 2018). The Assembly adopted aligned Rules of Procedure and an aligned Statute of the Commission in February 2021 (Assembly/AU/Dec.806(XXXIV)).

EvolutionThe AU Assembly replaced the Assembly of the Organization of African Unity (OAU). The OAU was established in 1963 and the AU was launched in 2002.

Membership There are 55 Member States. They are listed in the Member States section of this book, including their date of joining the AU or its predecessor the OAU.

A list of contact details for Permanent Missions of all AU Member States represented in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, can be found at www.au.int/en/member_states/embassies.

Ass

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33MeetingsArticle 6 of the AU Constitutive Act provides for the Assembly to meet in ordinary session at least once a year and in extraordinary session on request by a Member State and approved by a two-thirds majority of Member States. In recent years, the Assembly has met in ordinary session twice a year (see Assembly/AU/Dec.53(III) of July 2004). Sessions have usually taken place in late January or early February and June or July. January/February sessions have usually been held at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, while some June/July sessions have been hosted by a Member State that applied to do so. In January 2018, the Assembly decided that ordinary sessions would be held once a year from 2019 (see Assembly/AU/Dec.687(XXX) of January 2018 and Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) of January 2017). In place of the June/July session, the Assembly Bureau would hold a coordination meeting with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), with the participation of the Chairpersons of the RECs, the AU Commission and Regional Mechanisms (RMs). The first Mid-Year Coordination Meeting was held on 8 July 2019, in Niamey, Niger (see MYCM/Decl.1(I)). The second was to be held on 4 July 2020, in N’Djamena, Chad, but changed to a videoconference meeting held on 22 October 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The third was scheduled for July 2021 (Assembly/AU/Dec.804(XXXIV)) but rescheduled for October 2021.

The Assembly adopts its own agenda, which is usually prepared by the Executive Council or includes items decided on at the previous session. The agenda is in two parts: part A includes items that have already been agreed unanimously by the Executive Council and may not require further discussion; part B includes matters for which no consensus was reached by the Executive Council (Assembly Rules of Procedure, rule 8).1

Two-thirds of AU members are required to form a quorum at any Assembly meeting. The Assembly makes decisions by consensus or, where consensus is not possible, by a two-thirds majority vote by Member States (Constitutive Act, article 7). Matters of procedure, including the question of whether a matter is one of procedure or not, are decided by a simple majority.

Assembly Chairpersons and BureauThe Assembly Chairperson is a Head of State or Government elected by his/her peers at the January/February Ordinary Session for a renewable one-year term (articles 6(4) and 6(5) of the Constitutive Act, as amended in 2003). In January 2017, as part of the institutional reform efforts, the Assembly decided that a troika arrangement amongst the outgoing, current and incoming Chairpersons would be established to ensure continuity and effective implementation of decisions (Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII)). In January 2018, the Assembly decided that the Reform Troika would be expanded to include the full Bureau of the Assembly (Assembly/AU/Dec.687(XXX)).

In February 2020, the Assembly, recalling that under the principle of rotation it was the Central African region’s turn, decided the incoming Chairperson for 2021 would be the Democratic Republic of Congo (Assembly/AU/Dec.777(XXXIII)). In February 2021, the Assembly, recalling that under the principle of rotation it would be the Western African region’s turn, decided that the incoming Chairperson for 2022 would be Senegal (Assembly/AU/Dec.809(XXXIV)).

The 2003 Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act provides for the Chairperson to be assisted by a bureau chosen by the Assembly (article 6(6)) for a one-year term. The Assembly Rules of Procedure, as amended in 2007, provide for the Bureau to comprise three vice-chairpersons and one rapporteur. The Bureau is elected by the Assembly according to

Note1 See also Assembly decision 687 of January 2018 and Assembly decision 635 of January 2017 regarding institutional

reform, and decision 749 of February 2020.

34 regional rotation principles and through consultation. Between sessions, the Chairperson represents the Assembly at global forums.

The composition of the Assembly Bureau is reflected in the Executive Council and Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Bureaus.

African Union Assembly Chairpersons

Thabo Mbeki, South Africa ........................................................................................................................................................................................July 2002 to July 2003Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Mozambique .....................................................................................................................................July 2003 to July 2004Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria2

.......................................................................................................................................................July 2004 to December 2005Denis Sassou Nguesso, Congo Republic ....................................................................................................... January 2006 to January 2007John Kufuor, Ghana ................................................................................................................................................................................... January 2007 to January 2008Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Tanzania ................................................................................................................................... January 2008 to January 2009Muammar Gaddafi, Libya* ........................................................................................................................................................February 2009 to January 2010Bingu wa Mutharika, Malawi* ................................................................................................................................................. January 2010 to January 2011Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, Equatorial Guinea ..................................................... January 2011 to January 2012Thomas Boni Yayi, Benin ................................................................................................................................................................. January 2012 to January 2013Hailemariam Desalegn, Ethiopia ....................................................................................................................................... January 2013 to January 2014Mohamed Ould Abdel Aziz, Mauritania ............................................................................................................... January 2014 to January 2015Robert Gabriel Mugabe, Zimbabwe* ...................................................................................................................... January 2015 to January 2016Idriss Déby Itno, Chad* ...................................................................................................................................................................... January 2016 to January 2017Alpha Condé, Guinea ............................................................................................................................................................................. January 2017 to January 2018Paul Kagame, Rwanda......................................................................................................................................................................January 2018 to February 2019Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Egypt .................................................................................................................................................... February 2019 to February 2020Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa ..................................................................................................................................... February 2020 to February 2021Félix Tshisekedi, DR Congo ................................................................................................................................................. February 2021 to February 2022

Session dates: 2019–22

Thirty-fifth Ordinary Session: scheduled for 5 and 6 February 2022, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (see Assembly/AU/Dec.803(XXXIV) of February 2021)

Thirty-fourth Ordinary Session: held by videoconference on 6 and 7 February 2021Fourteenth Extraordinary Session (on Silencing the Guns): held by videoconference

on 6 December 2020Thirteenth Extraordinary Session (on the African Continental Free Trade Area): held by

videoconference on 5 December 2020Thirty-third Ordinary Session: 9 and 10 February 2020, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaTwelfth Extraordinary Session (on the African Continental Free Trade Area): 7 July 2019,

Niamey, NigerThirty-second Ordinary Session: 10 and 11 February 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Bureau: February 2021 to February 2022

Chairperson: Félix Tshisekedi, DR CongoFirst Vice-Chairperson: Macky Sall, SenegalSecond Vice-Chairperson: Azali Assoumani, ComorosThird Vice-Chairperson: Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, EgyptRapporteur: Cyril Ramaphosa, South Africa

Notes2 Term extended by six months.* Deceased.

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35Bureau: February 2020 to February 2021

Chairperson: Cyril Ramaphosa, South AfricaFirst Vice-Chairperson: Félix Tshisekedi, DR Congo Second Vice-Chairperson: Bah Ndaw, MaliThird Vice-Chairperson: Uhuru Kenyatta, KenyaRapporteur: Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, Egypt

Assembly High-Level Committees

Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security CouncilThe Committee, also known as C–10, was established by the AU Assembly in August 2005 at its fourth Extraordinary Session (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(IV)). Its mandate is to “present, advocate and canvass support” for two permanent and two additional non-permanent AU Member State seats on the Security Council, as proposed under the 2005 Ezulwini Consensus (Ext/EX.CL/2(VII)). The Consensus was endorsed by the Assembly in its 2005 Sirte Declaration on the Reform of the United Nations (Assembly/AU/Decl.2(V)) to form the African Common Position. This has been regularly reaffirmed by the Assembly, including by decision 766 of February 2020.

The Committee is composed of 10 Heads of State and Government, two from each region, and coordinated by the President of Sierra Leone, Julius Maada Bio.

Committee members (10)

Algeria

Congo Republic

Equatorial Guinea

Kenya

Libya

Namibia

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Uganda

Zambia

Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC)The Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) was established by the AU Assembly in July 2009 at its 13th Ordinary Session. Its mandate is to spearhead the African Common Position on Climate Change and its key messages, and ensure that Africa speaks with one voice in global climate change negotiations. The Committee usually meets on the margins of the Ordinary Session of the AU Assembly and also when necessary on the margins of other high-level events such as the UN General Assembly.

In 2013, the Assembly agreed that the coordination of CAHOSCC would rotate for two-year periods and that the host country of the African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) would serve as the Coordinator at the Summit level (Assembly/AU/Dec.457(XX)). The Coordinator for 2020 to 2022 is the President of South Africa. Previous coordinators were Gabon, Egypt, Tanzania and Ethiopia.

In January 2018, the Assembly approved a recommendation that Egypt and Mali become permanent members of CAHOSCC (Assembly/AU/Dec.669(XXX)).

36 CAHOSCC invites the Presidents chairing African Climate Commissions and climate change initiatives to give updates and report on progress at its sittings: the African Islands Climate Commission, Seychelles; Congo Basin Climate Commission, Congo Republic; Sahel Climate Commission, Niger; African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI), Guinea; Africa Adaptation Initiative (AAI), Gabon; and the Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA), Morocco.

Committee members (14)

President of Algeria

President of Congo Republic

President of Egypt

Prime Minister of Ethiopia

President of Kenya

President of Mali

Prime Minister of Mauritius

President of Mozambique

President of Nigeria

President of South Africa (CAHOSCC Coordinator)

President of Uganda

President of the country representing the African Group of Negotiators on Climate Change (Gabon)

Chairperson of the African Union

Chairperson of the AU Commission

High-Level Committee on African Trade (HATC) The High-Level Committee on African Trade (HATC) was established in response to AU Assembly decision 394(XVIII) of January 2012 on boosting intra-African trade. Its mandate is to champion acceleration of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), which was established by the March 2018 Extraordinary Assembly Summit, held in Kigali, Rwanda, and under which trading began on 1 January 2021 (see the Introduction section for more information about AfCFTA). The mandate of the HATC also includes implementation of the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) initiative. In addition, the HATC serves as a platform for exchange of experiences and best practices.

The Committee receives reports from AU African Ministers of Trade (AUAMOT) on the effective implementation of the Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT), which was endorsed by the AU Assembly in decision 394(XVIII). It makes recommendations to the AU Summit.

The HATC is composed of the Assembly Chairpersons (all Heads of State or Government) of the eight AU-recognised Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and is usually chaired by the AUAMOT Bureau President’s Head of State. The Chief Executives of these RECs are also invited to participate in HATC meetings as resource people. For the purpose of receiving expert information about intra-African trade, the Committee may allow the African Development Bank (AfDB) and UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) Chief Executive Officers to attend its meetings as observers.

The Committee usually meets twice a year, on the eve of the AU Summit and the Mid-Year Coordination Meeting. The AUC Department of Trade and Industry (from 2021, the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) under the new AUC structure) serves as the HATC Secretariat.

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37Committee members (8)

Chairperson: Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana and Chairperson of the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)

To be advised: Chairperson of the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD)Andry Rajoelina, President of Madagascar and Chairperson of the Common Market for Eastern

and Southern Africa (COMESA)Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda and Chairperson of the East African Community (EAC)Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo Republic and Chairperson of the Economic Community

of Central African States (ECCAS) Abdalla Hamdok, Prime Minister of Sudan and Chairperson of the Intergovernmental Authority

on Development (IGAD)Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, President of Mozambique and Chairperson of the Southern African

Development Community (SADC)Libya as the country chairing the Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)

Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government Champions for Education, Science and Technology in AfricaThe 25th AU Assembly, held in June 2015, established a Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government (two from each geographic region) to champion the cause of education, science and technology in Africa (Assembly/AU/Dec.572(XXV)). The Committee is to meet and report on the status of education, science and technology in Africa to the AU Summit once a year. The inaugural meeting was held in January 2018 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Assembly endorsed Macky Sall, President of Senegal, as first coordinator, and in January 2018, Béji Caïd Essebsi,3 then President of Tunisia, as the first Vice-Chairperson, and Arthur Peter Mutharika, then President of Malawi, as the second Vice-Chairperson. The members are listed in the African Union Champions section.

The Committee of Ten (C10) is instrumental as a high-level platform for advancing the implementation of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16–25); the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET); and the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024), which are pivotal for the realisation of Agenda 2063 goals.

The Committee held its first Extraordinary Summit in Lilongwe, Malawi, on 3 November 2018, under the theme Strengthening Education, Science, Technology and Innovation for Africa’s Development, and adopted a declaration and plan of action for championing education, science, technology and innovation.

Note3 Béji Caïd Essebsi, President of Tunisia, died in July 2019.

38 High-Level Committee of Heads of State and Government on Libya The Assembly decided at its January 2016 Summit to establish the High-Level Committee, as agreed in the Peace and Security Council (PSC) Communiqué of 23 September 2014, to enable the AU to support more effectively the efforts of peace and reconstruction in Libya (Assembly/AU/Dec.598(XXVI)). The Committee was initially composed of the Presidents of Congo Republic, South Africa, Mauritania, Gabon and Niger, and the Prime Minister of Ethiopia. In January 2017, the Assembly decided to expand the membership to also include Algeria, Chad, Egypt, Sudan and Tunisia (Assembly/AU/Dec.629(XXVIII)).

The Chair is Denis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo Republic, who was appointed during a meeting of the High-Level Committee on 8 November 2016, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The eighth meeting of the High-Level Committee was held in January 2020 in Brazzaville, Congo Republic (see Assembly/AU/Dec.753(XXXIII)). On 8 February 2020, a meeting was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, between the Chair of the AU High-Level Committee, the UN Secretary-General and the AU Commission Chairperson; and also a PSC Summit on Libya and Sahel. The Summit decided, amongst other things, to create the AU Contact Group for Libya. The Contact Group held its first meeting in March 2020, convened by the Chair of the AU High-Level Committee, and its second meeting in May 2020.

African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) The African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) is a sub-committee of the AU Assembly that provides political leadership and strategic guidance on the AUDA-NEPAD programmes, under Agenda 2063. The AUDA-NEPAD HSGOC provides reports, including recommendations, to the AU Assembly for full AU decisions or endorsement.

The AUDA-NEPAD HSGOC is composed of 33 Member States: eight Member States chairing the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and five members from each of the five AU regions. The principle of rotation shall apply to membership after a term of two years (see Assembly decisions 691 of July 2018 and 763 of February 2020). The February 2020 Assembly Summit endorsed Paul Kagame, President of Rwanda, as Chairperson; Macky Sall, President of Senegal and outgoing Chairperson of the HSGOC, as Vice-Chairperson and Rapporteur; and three other Vice-Chairpersons to be nominated after regional consultations (Assembly/AU/Dec.763(XXXIII)).

The Committee was established in 2001 as the NEPAD Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC). The name was changed to the Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) in 2010 (Assembly/AU/Dec.283(XIV)). In January 2017, in the context of institutional reform of the AU, the Assembly proposed the transformation of the technical implementing body, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency), into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) (Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII)). This recommendation was approved by the Assembly in July 2018 (Assembly/AU/Dec.691(XXXI)). For more information about AUDA-NEPAD, see the AU Commission chapter.

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39African Union ChampionsTo lead the implementation of key initiatives of the African Union as well as flagship projects of Agenda 2063, Heads of State and Government are selected by the Assembly as Champions to create awareness about these initiatives at continental and international levels and to get the necessary support required to ensure implementation by all Member States.

The AU Assembly has appointed Heads of State and Government to champion the following themes:

African Union–United Nations Cooperation, and the COVID-19 ResponseCyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa

Institutional Reform of the African Union, and Domestic Health FinancingPaul Kagame, President of Rwanda

Implementation of Agenda 2063Alassane Dramane Ouattara, President of Côte d’Ivoire

Gender and Development Issues in Africa, and AU Financial InstitutionsNana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, President of Ghana

Continental Free Trade Area Mohamed Bazoum, President of Niger

NutritionKing Letsie III, King of Lesotho

Leader and Chairperson of the High-Level Committee on LibyaDenis Sassou Nguesso, President of Congo Republic

Continental Political Integration Yoweri Kaguta Museveni, President of Uganda

Ending Child Marriage in Africa Edgar Chagwa Lungu, President of Zambia

Elimination of Female Genital Mutilation Roch Marc Christian Kaboré, President of Burkina Faso

Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in Youth (2017 theme)Idriss Déby Itno, President of Chad (passed away April 2021)

Implementation of the Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP)Abiy Ahmed, Prime Minister of Ethiopia

Maritime Security, Safety and Development in Africa, and Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM)Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, President of Togo

Combating Terrorism and Violent Extremism in AfricaAbdelmadjid Tebboune, President of Algeria

Migration King Mohammed VI, King of Morocco

40 Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons: Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement in Africa (2019 theme)Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Equatorial Guinea

United Nations Security Council ReformJulius Maada Bio, President of Sierra Leone

Climate Change Ali Bongo Ondimba, President of Gabon

Winning the Fight against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation (2018 theme)Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria

Chairperson of the African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA)Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya

Revitalisation and Operationalisation of the AU Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstructionand Development (PCRD) Abdel Fattah Al Sisi, President of Egypt

Arts, Culture and Heritage (2021 theme)Mali

Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government Champions for Education, Science and Technology in Africa

Central AfricaChad

Gabon

Eastern AfricaKenya

Mauritius

Northern AfricaEgypt

Tunisia

Southern AfricaMalawi

Namibia

Western AfricaSenegal (Chair)

Sierra Leone

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

EXECUTIVE COUNCIL

42 EXECUTIVE COUNCILThe Executive Council works in support of the African Union (AU) Assembly and is responsible to the Assembly. All Member States participate in the Executive Council, usually at foreign minister level.

Article 13 of the AU Constitutive Act mandates the Executive Council to coordinate and take decisions on policies in areas of common interest to Member States, consider issues referred to it and monitor the implementation of Assembly policies. The same article sets out a detailed list of substantive policy areas ranging from foreign trade, energy, agriculture and the environment to humanitarian response, health, social security and disability.

The Executive Council’s core functions include:• Preparing the Assembly session agendas and drafting decisions for its consideration• Electing the Members of the AU Commission (AUC) for appointment by the Assembly• Promoting cooperation and coordination with the Regional Economic Communities

(RECs), African Development Bank (AfDB), other African institutions and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)

• Determining policies for cooperation between the AU and Africa’s partners• Considering and making recommendations to the Assembly on the AU Commission's

structure, functions and statutes• Ensuring the promotion of gender equality in all AU programmes.

Provisions governing the Executive Council’s composition, functions and powers, voting and procedures are contained in articles 10 and 13 of the Constitutive Act.

The Executive Council makes decisions by consensus or, where consensus is not possible, by a two-thirds majority vote by Member States. Matters of procedure, including the question of whether a matter is one of procedure or not, are decided by a simple majority. Two-thirds of AU members are required to form a quorum at any Executive Council meeting.

EvolutionThe AU Executive Council is the successor to the Organization of African Unity’s (OAU’s) Council of Ministers.

In October 2020, the Executive Council adopted amendments to its Rules of Procedure to align them with institutional reform (see EX.CL/Dec.1099(XXXVII) of October 2020, Assembly/AU/Dec.757(XXXIII) of February 2020 and Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI) of November 2018).

StructureAll 55 AU Member States have one representative on the Executive Council. Members are usually ministers of foreign affairs but may be any minister designated by the Member State’s government (AU Constitutive Act, article 10; Rules of Procedure, rule 3). The same Member State that chairs the Assembly chairs the Executive Council (Rules of Procedure, rule 16). Similar to the Assembly and the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC), the Executive Council Bureau consists of a chairperson, three vice-chairpersons and a rapporteur. The Bureau positions are held by the same states that form the Assembly Bureau. Office holders serve for one year (usually February to February in recent years).

Where the Executive Council accepts an invitation from a Member State to host a meeting away from headquarters, the host country has the right to co-chair the Council (rule 16(2)). The Executive Council may delegate its powers and functions to the PRC and Specialised Technical Committees (STCs).

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43MeetingsThe Executive Council meets at least twice a year in ordinary session, usually in early February and July. The Executive Council can also meet in extraordinary session at the request of the Assembly, the Chairperson, any Member State or the Chairperson of the AU Commission in consultation with the Chairperson of the Executive Council, and on approval by two-thirds of all Member States (Constitutive Act, article 10; Rules of Procedure, rule 12). All sessions are closed to the public, unless the Council decides otherwise (by simple majority; Rules of Procedure, rule 14). Extraordinary sessions are held at AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, unless a Member State invites the Council to meet in its country (Rules of Procedure, rule 12).

The Executive Council adopts its agenda at the opening of each session. The provisional agenda for an ordinary session is drawn up by the PRC. The Chairperson of the AU Commission communicates the draft agenda to Member States at least 30 days before the opening of the session (Rules of Procedure, rule 9).

Provisional agendas are usually divided into two parts: items for adoption, where the PRC has reached agreement and Executive Council approval is possible without discussion; and items for discussion, where agreement has not been reached by the PRC and debate is required.

Additional agenda items can only be for information (usually added to the agenda item reserved for other business), not for debate or decision (Rules of Procedure, rule 10). Extraordinary session agendas can comprise only the item or items submitted in the request for convening the session (Rules of Procedure, rule 13).

In January 2016, the Executive Council asked the AUC, in collaboration with the PRC, to, amongst other things, rationalise the number of meetings each year, ensure that the Summit agenda and decisions address strategic rather than administrative issues, and ensure that decisions on which no action is taken after two or three years are recommended to policy organs for cancellation (EX.CL/Dec.898(XXVIII)Rev.1).

African Union Executive Council Chairpersons

Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, South Africa ...........................................................................................................................................July 2002 to July 2003Leonardo Simão, Mozambique .........................................................................................................................................................................July 2003 to July 2004Oluyemi Adeniji, Nigeria1

.......................................................................................................................................................................July 2004 to December 2005Rodolphe Adada/Denis Sassou Nguesso, Congo Republic ...................................... January 2006 to January 2007Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo/Akwasi Osei-Adjei, Ghana ................................... January 2007 to January 2008Bernard Membe, Tanzania ........................................................................................................................................................... January 2008 to January 2009Abdel Rahman Shalgam/Moussa Koussa, Libya ..........................................................................February 2009 to January 2010Etta Elizabeth Banda, Malawi .................................................................................................................................................. January 2010 to January 2011Micha Ondó Bile, Equatorial Guinea ......................................................................................................................... January 2011 to January 2012Nassirou Bako Arifari, Benin ..................................................................................................................................................... January 2012 to January 2013Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Ethiopia ......................................................................................................... January 2013 to January 2014Ahmed Ould Teguedi, Mauritania ................................................................................................................................... January 2014 to January 2015Simbarashe Simbanenduku Mumbengegwi, Zimbabwe ................................................... January 2015 to January 2016Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad ................................................................................................................................................. January 2016 to January 2017Makalé Camara, Guinea .................................................................................................................................................................... January 2017 to January 2018Louise Mushikiwabo, Rwanda............................................................................................................................................January 2018 to February 2019Sameh Shoukry, Egypt ................................................................................................................................................................. February 2019 to February 2020Naledi Pandor, South Africa ................................................................................................................................................ February 2020 to February 2021Marie Tumba Nzeza, DR Congo ................................................................................................................................. February 2021 to February 2022

Note1 Term extended for six months.

44 Session dates: 2019–22

Fortieth Ordinary Session: scheduled for 2 and 3 February 2022, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Assembly/AU/Dec.803(XXXIV) of February 2021)

Thirty-ninth Ordinary Session: scheduled for 1 and 2 July 2021, N’Djamena, Chad (Assembly/AU/Dec.804(XXXIV) of February 2021); rescheduled for October 2021

Thirty-eighth Ordinary Session: held by videoconference on 3 and 4 February 2021Thirty-seventh Ordinary Session: held by videoconference on 13 and 14 October 2020 Thirty-sixth Ordinary Session: 6 and 7 February 2020, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThirty-fifth Ordinary Session: 4 and 5 July 2019, Niamey, NigerThirty-fourth Ordinary Session: 7 and 8 February 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Bureau: February 2021 to February 2022

Chairperson: DR CongoFirst Vice-Chairperson: SenegalSecond Vice-Chairperson: ComorosThird Vice-Chairperson: EgyptRapporteur: South Africa

Bureau: February 2020 to February 2021

Chairperson: South AfricaFirst Vice-Chairperson: DR Congo Second Vice-Chairperson: MaliThird Vice-Chairperson: KenyaRapporteur: Egypt

Executive Council Committees

Ministerial Committee on Candidatures within the International SystemThe Committee is responsible for promoting African candidates for positions on international bodies. The members are selected on the basis of geographical distribution for two-year terms, renewable once. The Committee meets twice a year on the margins of the Executive Council ordinary sessions, which are usually held in February and July, and can hold extraordinary meetings if required.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa: Congo Republic, Equatorial Guinea and GabonEastern Africa: Djibouti, Kenya and SudanNorthern Africa: Mauritania and TunisiaSouthern Africa: Angola, Malawi and Zimbabwe Western Africa: Burkina Faso, Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: TunisiaFirst Vice-Chairperson: Equatorial GuineaSecond Vice-Chairperson: DjiboutiThird Vice-Chairperson: AngolaRapporteur: Sierra Leone

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45Ministerial Committee on the Challenges of Ratification/Accession and Implementation of the OAU/AU Treaties The Committee is responsible for advocating for the ratification, domestication and implementation of OAU/AU treaties by all Member States. It is composed of 10 members, two from each region, who usually serve two-year terms. The Committee usually meets once a year on the margins of the Executive Council February Ordinary Session. The Committee held its inaugural session in January 2015 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

The Committee is supported by a standing committee of experts composed of two members from each AU region.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa: Chad and Equatorial GuineaEastern Africa: Eritrea and EthiopiaNorthern Africa: Mauritania and Sahrawi RepublicSouthern Africa: Botswana and ZambiaWestern Africa: Guinea and Niger

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: NigerFirst Vice-Chairperson: Zambia Second Vice-Chairperson: MauritaniaThird Vice-Chairperson: Equatorial GuineaRapporteur: Ethiopia

Ministerial Committee on the Scale of Assessment and ContributionsThe Committee is responsible for reviewing the scale of assessment for Member State contributions to the AU budget; advising the Assembly on the apportionment of AU expenses among Member States, broadly according to their capacity to pay, solidarity and equitable payments; and advising the Assembly on the treatment of Member States in arrears of their contributions. The Committee works in close collaboration with the AUC Bureau of the Deputy Chairperson’s Contributions and Financing Unit as well as the Directorate of Finance (under the new AUC structure).

The Committee was established following an Executive Council decision in January 2016 to restructure the Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee on the Scale of Assessment into a standing committee and rename it the Ministerial Committee on the Scale of Assessment and Contributions (EX.CL/Dec.916(XXVIII)Rev.1). The Council also decided that the new committee would take over the mandate of the Permanent Representatives Committee’s (PRC’s) Sub-Committee on Contributions and that Sub-Committee would be abolished. The Ad-Hoc Ministerial Committee had replaced the Standing Sub-Committee on the Review of the Scale of Assessment (EX.CL/Dec.4(II) of March 2003), which had the same membership.2

Note2 Standing committees are ongoing and meet regularly, unlike ad hoc committees, which are usually established

for a limited time to address a specific issue.

46 Members are selected on the basis of geographical distribution for two-year terms. Meetings are scheduled to be held biannually on the margins of the Executive Council Ordinary Session in February and during mid-year Summits.

Members: February 2019 to December 20203

Central Africa: Burundi, Cameroon and ChadEastern Africa: Mauritius and UgandaNorthern Africa: Algeria and EgyptSouthern Africa: Angola and Botswana Western Africa: Gambia and Nigeria

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: MauritiusFirst Vice-Chairperson: ChadSecond Vice-Chairperson: AngolaThird Vice-Chairperson: GambiaRapporteur: Algeria

Ministerial Follow-Up Committee on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 (Ministerial Committee on Agenda 2063)The initial role of the Ministerial Committee on Agenda 2063 was to provide political direction for development of the Agenda 2063 final document and to report to the Executive Council on its implementation. Subsequently, its core mandate has centred on strategic orientation, efficiency, financing and accountability in the delivery of Agenda 2063, the First Ten-Year Implementation Plan and successive plans.

The Committee was established by the Executive Council’s first ministerial retreat, held in Bahir Dar, Ethiopia, in January 2014, and formalised by the Executive Council’s 24th Session, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, also in January 2014 (EX.CL/Dec.807(XXIV)). Its mandate was renewed by the Executive Council’s 29th Session in January 2016 (EX.CL/Dec.908(XXVIII)Rev.1), and its terms of reference were approved by the Executive Council in July 2016 (EX.CL/Dec.935(XXIX)). Members’ terms are two years, taking into account the spirit of rotation and regional balance. The 2018–20 members were endorsed by the Executive Council at the January 2018 Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. As of January 2021, the fourth Committee had not yet been formed.

Note3 In June 2018, the Executive Council decided to reconfigure the composition of the Ministerial Committee on the

Scale of Assessment to include the Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance (F15) (EX.CL/Dec.1020(XXXIII)).

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47Members: 2018–20

Central Africa: Chad (Rapporteur) Eastern Africa: South SudanNorthern Africa: Libya (Vice-Chair)Southern Africa: Botswana (Chair)Western Africa: Côte d’Ivoire Incumbent and outgoing AU ChairpersonsChairpersons and executive secretaries of the eight officially recognised Regional Economic

Communities (RECs)Chairperson of the AU CommissionExecutive Secretary, UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)President, African Development Bank (AfDB) Chief Executive Officer, NEPAD Planning and Coordination Agency (NPCA) (now AUDA-NEPAD)

Open-ended Ministerial Committee on the International Criminal Court (ICC)The Open-ended Ministerial Committee on the International Criminal Court (ICC) was established in line with the AU Assembly’s recommendation in June 2015 to form an open-ended committee of foreign ministers (see Assembly/AU/Dec.789(XXXIII) of February 2020). The Committee is chaired by the Foreign Minister of Ethiopia.

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AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES

COMMITTEE

50 PERMANENT REPRESENTATIVES COMMITTEE (PRC)

Note1 See Assembly decision 635 of January 2017 regarding institutional reform of the Union.

The Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) conducts the day-to-day business of the African Union (AU) on behalf of the Assembly and Executive Council. It reports to the Executive Council, prepares the Executive Council’s work and acts on its instructions (under article 21 of the Constitutive Act).1 All AU Member States are members of the PRC.

Rule 4 of the PRC Rules of Procedure specifies that its powers and functions include to:• Act as an advisory body to the AU Executive Council• Prepare its Rules of Procedure and submit them to the Executive Council• Prepare Executive Council meetings, including the agenda and draft decisions• Make recommendations on areas of common interest to Member States, particularly

on issues on the Executive Council agenda • Facilitate communication between the African Union Commission (AUC) and Member

States’ capitals• Consider the AU’s programme and budget as well as the Commission’s administrative,

budgetary and financial matters, and make recommendations to the Executive Council• Consider the Commission’s financial report and make recommendations to the Executive

Council• Consider the Board of External Auditors’ report and submit written comments to the

Executive Council• Monitor the implementation of the AU budget • Propose the composition of AU organ bureaus, ad hoc committees and sub-committees• Consider matters relating to the AU’s programmes and projects, particularly issues

relating to the socio-economic development and integration of the continent, and make recommendations to the Executive Council

• Monitor the implementation of policies, decisions and agreements adopted by the Executive Council

• Participate in the preparation of the AU programme of activities and calendar of meetings; consider any matter assigned to it by the Executive Council; and carry out any other functions that may be assigned to it by the Executive Council.

Rule 4 also provides that the PRC may set up ad hoc committees and temporary working groups as it deems necessary.

In October 2020, the Executive Council adopted amendments to the PRC Rules of Procedure, to align them with institutional reform (see EX.CL/Dec.1099(XXXVII) of October 2020, Assembly/AU/Dec.757(XXXIII) of February 2020 and Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI) of November 2018).

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51StructureAll Member States are represented on the PRC at the level of Permanent Representative. Similar to the Assembly and Executive Council, the PRC Bureau consists of a chairperson, three vice-chairpersons and a rapporteur. The Bureau positions are held by the same states that form the Assembly and Executive Council bureaus. Office holders serve for one year (usually January to January). In addition to the official Bureau, a larger informal bureau of 15 Member States traditionally convenes to support arrangements for the Assembly Summit sessions.

At the PRC level, the five regional groups are informal discussion structures, chaired by the longest-serving representative, who acts as the Dean.

MeetingsThe PRC usually meets at AU Headquarters at least once a week and holds an ordinary session two times a year. It may also hold extraordinary sessions. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States eligible to vote. The agenda for each session is drawn up by the Chairperson in consultation with the PRC Bureau and the AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the PRC decides otherwise (by simple majority).

The AU Executive Council decided in June 2018 that, as of 2019, the PRC shall hold its sessions in time for it to adopt its reports at least two weeks prior to the start of the Executive Council ordinary sessions (EX.CL/Dec.1030(XXXIII)).

The PRC takes all its decisions by consensus or, failing that, by a two-thirds majority of Member States. Questions of procedure require a simple majority vote. Whether a question is one of procedure or not is also determined by a simple majority vote. PRC meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the Rules of Procedure and decision-taking by rule 13.

Session dates: 2019–22

Forty-third Ordinary Session: scheduled for 20 and 21 January 2022, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (Assembly/AU/Dec.803(XXXIV) of February 2021)

Forty-second Ordinary Session: scheduled for 15 and 16 June 2021, N’Djamena, Chad (Assembly/AU/Dec.804(XXXIV) of February 2021); rescheduled for September 2021

Forty-first Ordinary Session: held by videoconference on 20 and 21 January 2021 Fortieth Ordinary Session: held by videoconference on 30 September and 1 October 2020 Thirty-ninth Ordinary Session: 21 and 22 January 2020, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThirty-eighth Ordinary Session: 17 and 18 June 2019, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaThirty-seventh Ordinary Session: 21 and 22 January 2019, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Office holders: January 2021 to January 2022

Chairperson: DR CongoFirst Vice-Chairperson: SenegalSecond Vice-Chairperson: ComorosThird Vice-Chairperson: EgyptRapporteur: South Africa

Office holders: January 2020 to January 2021

Chairperson: South AfricaFirst Vice-Chairperson: DR CongoSecond Vice-Chairperson: MaliThird Vice-Chairperson: KenyaRapporteur: Egypt

52 Regional Deans

Overall Dean: to be advisedCentral Africa: Lazare Makayat-Safouesse, Congo Republic Eastern Africa: Assoumani Yousuf Mondoha, Comoros Northern Africa: Lamine Baali Yahiaoui, Sahrawi RepublicSouthern Africa: Promise S Msibi, EswatiniWestern Africa: Fafré Camara, Mali

Sub-Committees

Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters

PurposeThe Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters oversees the financial and administrative management of the AU on behalf of the PRC. Under its draft terms of reference, the Sub-Committee’s core tasks include: • Reviewing the draft programme of activities and budgetary estimates presented by the

Commission • Reviewing all administrative and other matters with financial implications• Reviewing administration of the programme budget and, in particular, the financial and

accounting transactions of the Commission and regional offices• Considering requests by the Commission for transfers of authorised budgetary funds to

cope with any urgent decisions or projects• Considering unforeseen urgent expenditure • Considering requests related to the working capital or other funds• Reviewing the Commission’s financial report for the preceding year and making

recommendations to the PRC.

The Sub-Committee reports on each of its meetings and makes recommendations to the PRC. It may draft reports for review by the Executive Council on any issues concerning administrative, budgetary, management and financial matters. The Sub-Committee reviews drafts of the AU’s financial rules and regulations, which are then submitted to the PRC for consideration before going to the Executive Council and on to Assembly-level approval.

EvolutionThe Sub-Committee was previously named the Advisory Sub-Committee on Administrative, Budgetary and Financial Matters and was the successor to the OAU Sub-Committee of the same name. In January 2016, the AU Executive Council asked the PRC to strengthen and reform the Sub-Committee and rename it the Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters (EX.CL/Dec.916(XXVIII)Rev.1). The Executive Council adopted draft terms of reference for the renamed Sub-Committee in July 2016 (EX.CL/Dec.931(XXIX)), and the name change took effect in 2017.

Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are held at AU Headquarters at least quarterly, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

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53MembershipThe Sub-Committee is a committee of the whole, meaning all AU Member States are members.

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: Congo RepublicFirst Vice-Chairperson: Ghana Second Vice-Chairperson: EgyptThird Vice-Chairperson: ComorosRapporteur: South Africa

Sub-Committee on Audit Matters

PurposeThe PRC established the Sub-Committee on Audit Matters during its 25th Ordinary Session, held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in January 2013. The Sub-Committee’s mandate is to assist the AU in handling financial reporting processes, internal control, audit and the monitoring of compliance with rules and regulations. Under its terms of reference, the Sub-Committee’s core tasks include to:• Oversee the implementation of audit recommendations of all oversight operations• Review and consider the audited annual financial statements as presented by the Board of

External Auditors• Approve the work plan of the Office of Internal Audit (OIA) (Office of Internal Oversight (OIO)

under the new AUC structure) taking into account the work plans of the other oversight bodies • Review the budget proposal of the OIA, taking into account its work plan, and make

recommendations to the PRC• Advise the PRC on the effectiveness, efficiency and impact of the audit activities and other

oversight functions• Consider any changes to the internal audit regulations• Ensure that the internal audit function is organisationally independent from authority

operations• Review the performance of the Board of External Auditors• Consider management’s assessment of the effectiveness of the Union’s internal controls

and consider the report on internal controls by the Board of External Auditors as a part of the financial audit engagement

• Receive quarterly inspection and audit reports containing specific recommendations about required improvements for consideration by the PRC

• Present annually to the PRC a written report about how it has discharged its duties and met its responsibilities as outlined in the terms of reference.

Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are held at AU Headquarters at least once a quarter. The quorum is a simple majority of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

Membership The Sub-Committee is composed of 15 members based on the agreed geographical distribution, as noted in the following list. In accordance with established practice, the composition of the Sub-Committee is determined by internal consultations.

54 Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Cameroon, Chad and Gabon Eastern Africa (3 seats): Mauritius, Seychelles and South SudanNorthern Africa (2 seats): Mauritania and MoroccoSouthern Africa (3 seats): Malawi, Namibia and ZimbabweWestern Africa (4 seats): Côte d’Ivoire, Gambia, Guinea and Mali

Bureau

Chairperson: NamibiaFirst Vice-Chairperson: MoroccoSecond Vice-Chairperson: ChadThird Vice-Chairperson: Côte d’IvoireRapporteur: South Sudan

Sub-Committee on Economic and Trade Matters

PurposeThe Sub-Committee is responsible for examining trade and economic activities affecting Africa, with a view to fast-tracking the economic and trade integration process on the continent. It considers bilateral and multilateral trade and economic issues.

Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are usually held at AU Headquarters at least once a month, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

Membership The Sub-Committee is composed of 15 members based on agreed geographical distribution, as noted in the following list. In accordance with established practice, the composition of the Sub-Committee is agreed by internal consultations.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Chad, Congo Republic and DR CongoEastern Africa (3 seats): Kenya, Seychelles and UgandaNorthern Africa (2 seats): Egypt and LibyaSouthern Africa (3 seats): Malawi, Namibia and South AfricaWestern Africa (4 seats): Benin, Burkina Faso, Senegal and Togo

Bureau

Chairperson: UgandaFirst Vice-Chairperson: LibyaSecond Vice-Chairperson: South AfricaThird Vice-Chairperson: DR CongoRapporteur: Senegal

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55Sub-Committee on Headquarters and Host Agreements

PurposeThe Sub-Committee on Headquarters and Host Agreements is responsible for ensuring proper implementation of host country agreements between the AU and countries hosting AU organs, institutions and agencies, including the Headquarters of the AU. Its primary mandate includes to:• Liaise with the Commission on issues relating to and arising from the implementation of the

Headquarters and other host agreements, including on issues of privileges and immunities of AU staff and government officials

• Undertake a review of Headquarters and similar agreements and make recommendations for their amendment or revision

• Initiate, when necessary, meetings with host government authorities with a view to resolving any problems.

EvolutionThe Sub-Committee is the successor of the OAU Committee of the same name and with the same mandate. The Office of the Legal Counsel acts as secretariat to the Sub-Committee.

Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are held at AU Headquarters at least once a month, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

Membership The Sub-Committee is composed of 15 members based on agreed geographical distribution, as noted in the following list. In accordance with established practice, the composition of the Sub-Committee is determined by internal consultations, and the outcome is communicated through the regional deans.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Burundi, DR Congo and Equatorial GuineaEastern Africa (3 seats): Ethiopia, Sudan and TanzaniaNorthern Africa (2 seats): Egypt and MauritaniaSouthern Africa (3 seats): Lesotho, Mozambique and South AfricaWestern Africa (4 seats): Gambia, Liberia, Niger and Senegal

Bureau

Chairperson: Equatorial GuineaFirst Vice-Chairperson: SenegalSecond Vice-Chairperson: MauritaniaThird Vice-Chairperson: LesothoRapporteur: Tanzania

56 Sub-Committee of the Whole on Multilateral Cooperation

PurposeThe Sub-Committee is responsible for matters relating to Africa’s multilateral partnerships with the rest of the world.

Meetings The meetings of the Sub-Committee are convened by its Chairperson in consultation with the Bureau and the Commission. Sessions are held at AU Headquarters when needed. The quorum is a simple majority of the Member States from the initial 15 members. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC.

Membership The Sub-Committee was originally composed of 15 AU Member States. A new participation format for the Sub-Committee, consisting of all AU Member States, came into effect in 2018 after recognition of the importance of involving all Member States in relevant discussions and developments concerning partnership activities.

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: MaliFirst Vice-Chairperson: MozambiqueSecond Vice-Chairperson: GabonThird Vice-Chairperson: TunisiaRapporteur: Djibouti

Sub-Committee on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD)

PurposeThe Sub-Committee was established in 2010 to oversee and support activities promoting the then New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD), which was the AU’s strategic framework for pan-African socio-economic development. In 2019, the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency) was transformed into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). See the AUC chapter for more information.

The Sub-Committee was mandated to:• Advise the PRC as appropriate on courses of action to be taken to enhance NEPAD

programmes at continental levels• Monitor progress made in the implementation of the strategic plan proposed by the

Steering Committee for marketing NEPAD at national, sub-regional, regional and international levels, and make (periodic) reports to the PRC

• Follow up on implementation of decisions of the Assembly on NEPAD• Follow up on the progress made on the priority areas and policy guidelines outlined in

the plan of action for the implementation of NEPAD and report periodically to the PRC• Together with the AUC and NEPAD, devise an effective communication strategy for NEPAD• Assist in identifying priority areas/sectors that could reverse Africa’s marginalisation and lay

a basis for sustainable long-term development• In collaboration with the AUC and the NEPAD Agency (now AUDA-NEPAD), devise ways

and means of mobilising resources for the implementation of the policies, programmes and projects of NEPAD and report to the PRC on recommendations to be considered.

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57MeetingsSub-Committee sessions are held at AU Headquarters at least once a month, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

MembershipThe Sub-Committee is composed of 15 members based on agreed geographical distribution, as noted in the following list. In accordance with established practice, the composition of the Sub-Committee is determined by internal consultations.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Cameroon, Chad and GabonEastern Africa (3 seats): Kenya, Sudan and UgandaNorthern Africa (2 seats): Algeria and MauritaniaSouthern Africa (3 seats): Botswana, Lesotho and ZambiaWestern Africa (4 seats): Guinea, Nigeria, Senegal and Togo

Bureau

Chairperson: Botswana First Vice-Chairperson: AlgeriaSecond Vice-Chairperson: NigeriaThird Vice-Chairperson: KenyaRapporteur: Gabon

Sub-Committee on Programmes and Conferences

PurposeThe Sub-Committee oversees the scheduling and organisation of AU conferences and meetings. Its mandate includes to:• Make recommendations concerning the scheduling of statutory meetings• Review the draft programmes and calendar of meetings and arrange practical timetabling• Review the budget framework paper of the Union in a joint sitting with the Sub-Committee

on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters plus the Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance (F15) experts

• Liaise with the Advisory Sub-Committee on Administrative, Budgetary and Financial Matters (now the Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters) on the administrative and financial implications of conferences and meetings

• Monitor the implementation of AU resolutions, rules and regulations relating to the organisation, servicing and documentation of meetings and conferences.

EvolutionThe Sub-Committee is the successor to the OAU Sub-Committee on Programmes and Conferences.

58 Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are scheduled to be held at AU Headquarters every quarter, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the Bureau of the Sub-Committee, Directorate of Conference Management and Publications (DCMP), Finance Directorate and the Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery (OSPD). Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

Membership The Sub-Committee on Programmes and Conferences is a committee of the whole, meaning all AU Member States are members.

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: GuineaFirst Vice-Chairperson: Ethiopia Second Vice-Chairperson: Sahrawi RepublicThird Vice-Chairperson: BotswanaRapporteur: Burundi

Sub-Committee on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa

PurposeThe Sub-Committee is responsible for AU policies on refugees, displaced persons and returnees. Its mandate includes to:• Assist AU deliberative organs in designing, developing, defining, harmonising and

coordinating policy on matters affecting refugees, displaced persons and returnees, as well as in matters relating to the promotion of humanitarian law on the continent

• Follow up, analyse and evaluate the situation of refugees, displaced persons and returnees and provide policy recommendations and solutions to the Executive Council for AU action

• Collaborate and work with the AUC and UN humanitarian agencies, regional organisations, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and concerned non-governmental organisations

• Maintain permanent contacts with Member States, through the AUC, on humanitarian issues caused by political setbacks and natural disasters.

EvolutionThe Sub-Committee is the successor to the OAU Commission on Refugees, which was established in 1964 by the Council of Ministers. It was composed of 10 members tasked to examine the issue of refugees and formulate recommendations to the Council, including on the issue of integration of refugees in their countries of asylum. In 1980, the membership was extended and, in 1997, opened to all Member States.

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59Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are usually held at AU Headquarters at least quarterly, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

Membership The Sub-Committee is a committee of the whole, meaning all AU Member States are members.

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: Uganda First Vice-Chairperson: Sierra Leone Second Vice-Chairperson: EswatiniThird Vice-Chairperson: Sahrawi RepublicRapporteur: Equatorial Guinea

Policy Sub-Committee of the Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine Relief in Africa

Purpose The Policy Sub-Committee of the Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine Relief in Africa oversees all matters relating to the operation of the Fund of the same name. Its mandate includes to: • Act as the supreme organ of the Special Emergency Assistance Fund• Determine the Fund’s operational policy, including the criteria for approval of loans

and the terms and conditions for withdrawals from the Fund• Approve administrative and other expenses related to the operation of the Fund• Select beneficiary countries and decide on the amounts of grants and loans • Initiate effective measures for mobilising resources for the Fund from both public

and private sources and including African and non-African sources• Make recommendations regarding the management and administration of the

Fund’s resources by the African Development Bank (AfDB) • Make recommendations regarding the Statute of the Fund and its rules and operating

procedures• Report on its activities annually to the AU Executive Council in consultation with the

Chairperson of the Commission.

EvolutionThe Sub-Committee originated in the Lagos Plan of Action recommendation to establish a Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine in Africa. In the mid-1980s, the Council of Ministers called for the Fund to become operational, and the OAU created an interim policy committee to act as the supreme organ of the Fund, determine policy and draw up the criteria for approval of loans or grants from the Fund. The Interim Policy Committee became the Sub-Committee of the Special Emergency Assistance Fund when the AU was created.

60 Meetings Sub-Committee sessions are usually held at AU Headquarters at least four times a year, and extraordinary sessions may also be held. The quorum is two-thirds of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

Membership The Sub-Committee is composed of 15 members based on agreed geographical distribution, as noted in the following list. In accordance with established practice, the composition of the Sub-Committee is determined by consultation amongst the AU regional deans.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Burundi, Chad and Equatorial GuineaEastern Africa (3 seats): Eritrea, Madagascar and SomaliaNorthern Africa (2 seats): Mauritania and Sahrawi RepublicSouthern Africa (3 seats): Eswatini, Lesotho and MalawiWestern Africa (4 seats): Burkina Faso, Gambia, Guinea and Togo

Bureau

Chairperson: Sahrawi RepublicFirst Vice-Chairperson: EswatiniSecond Vice-Chairperson: SomaliaThird Vice-Chairperson: ChadRapporteur: Gambia

Sub-Committee on Structural Reforms

PurposeThe Sub-Committee on Structural Reforms oversees the organisational review of the AU. It is responsible for ensuring that the organisational structure is aligned with the Commission’s mandates. The Sub-Committee’s mandate includes to:• Evaluate and make proposals on organisational structures• Keep the structure within the AUC under regular review to ensure that activities are

programme oriented and harmonised to avoid duplication.

EvolutionThe Sub-Committee is the successor to the OAU’s Ad Hoc Committee of Experts, which was established in 1997 to replace earlier technical and ad hoc expert committees that focused on structural reforms.

MeetingsSub-Committee sessions are held at AU Headquarters as required. The quorum is a simple majority of the Member States. The Chairperson draws up the agenda in consultation with the PRC Bureau, Sub-Committee Bureau and AUC. Sessions are closed, except when the Sub-Committee decides by simple majority to hold open sessions. Meetings are governed by rules 5–9 of the PRC Rules of Procedure.

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61Membership The Sub-Committee on Structural Reforms is a committee of the whole, meaning all AU Member States are members. Membership was opened to all AU members in 2012 (PRC/Rpt(XXIV), para 37(ii)). The Sub-Committee previously comprised 15 members.

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: AlgeriaFirst Vice-Chairperson: Congo RepublicSecond Vice-Chairperson: Burkina Faso Third Vice-Chairperson: SeychellesRapporteur: Angola

Sub-Committee on Rules, Standards and Credentials

PurposeAs provided for in its terms of reference, the Sub-Committee has the mandate to consider all matters relating to the Rules of Procedure of the AU policy organs, best practices and standards during meetings, and credentials for delegations to policy organ meetings.

EvolutionThe Executive Council agreed in June 2015 to the Sub-Committee being formed (EX.CL/Dec.884(XXVII)).

MeetingsThe draft terms of reference provide for the Sub-Committee to meet at least four times a year and as often as necessary for the effective discharge of its mandate.

MembershipThe draft terms of reference provide for the Sub-Committee to be composed of 15 members based on agreed geographical distribution, as noted in the following list. In line with established practice, the composition of the Sub-Committee is determined by consultation amongst the AU regional deans.

Members: February 2019 to December 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Burundi, Cameroon and ChadEastern Africa (3 seats): Kenya, Rwanda and Tanzania Northern Africa (2 seats): Algeria and MoroccoSouthern Africa (3 seats): Namibia, Zambia and ZimbabweWestern Africa (4 seats): Benin, Mali, Niger and Sierra Leone

Bureau: February 2019 to December 2020

Chairperson: MoroccoFirst Vice-Chairperson: RwandaSecond Vice-Chairperson: Zambia Third Vice-Chairperson: BurundiRapporteur: Mali

62 Drafting CommitteeIn February 2019, the AU Assembly decided to re-establish the Drafting Committee at ambassador level after it had been dissolved in 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.745(XXXII)). The Committee will be responsible for validating draft decisions of the Executive Council and the Assembly submitted by all AU organs.

The Committee consists of 15 members, comprising the five members of the Bureau of the Union and two Member States from each region. It is scheduled to meet twice a year, on the sidelines of the PRC, Executive Council and Assembly meetings. The quorum for meetings is two-thirds of the members of the Committee.

Members: from February 2020

Central Africa (3 seats): Cameroon, Congo Republic and DR CongoEastern Africa (3 seats): Eritrea, Ethiopia and KenyaNorthern Africa (3 seats): Algeria, Egypt and MoroccoSouthern Africa (3 seats): Eswatini, South Africa and Zambia Western Africa (3 seats): Côte d’Ivoire, Mali and Sierra Leone

Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democracy and GovernanceThe Sub-Committee on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance was operationalised in October 2019 (see EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI)).

Members

Central Africa (3 seats): Burundi, Cameroon and ChadEastern Africa (3 seats): Comoros, Mauritius and RwandaNorthern Africa (2 seats): Egypt and LibyaSouthern Africa (3 seats): Malawi, Zambia and ZimbabweWestern Africa (4 seats): Burkina Faso, Ghana, Senegal and Sierra Leone

Bureau

Chairperson: SenegalFirst Vice-Chairperson: ZimbabweSecond Vice-Chairperson: MauritiusThird Vice-Chairperson: LibyaRapporteur: Burundi

Sub-Committee on Environmental IssuesThe AU Executive Council decided in January 2018 to operationalise the Sub-Committee on Environmental Issues (see EX.CL/Dec.987(XXXII)Rev.1). The Sub-Committee held its first meeting on 26 May 2020, by videoconference, where elections were held.

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Central Africa (3 seats): Chad, DR Congo and GabonEastern Africa (3 seats): Kenya, Madagascar and SeychellesNorthern Africa (2 seats): Morocco and Sahrawi RepublicSouthern Africa (3 seats): Lesotho, Mozambique and Zimbabwe Western Africa (4 seats): Benin, Ghana, Guinea and Sierra Leone

Bureau

Chairperson: KenyaFirst Vice-Chairperson: GabonSecond Vice-Chairperson: GuineaThird Vice-Chairperson: MoroccoRapporteur: Lesotho

Sub-Committee on Budget Matters The AU Executive Council, during its 28th Ordinary Session in January 2016, requested the PRC to establish the Sub-Committee on Budget Matters as a committee of the whole, meaning all AU Member States are members (see EX.CL/Dec.916(XXVIII)). The terms of reference of the Sub-Committee were outlined during the 29th Extraordinary Session following adoption in July 2016 of decision EX.CL/Dec.931(XXIX) on oversight and accountability mechanisms. The Sub-Committee was created but not activated, and its functions are currently carried out by the Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters.

While the Bureau has not been chosen, some Member States have been nominated:

Central Africa: GabonEastern Africa: SomaliaNorthern Africa: to be confirmedSouthern Africa: Botswana (proposed as Chairperson by region)Western Africa: to be confirmed

64

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

SPECIALISED TECHNICAL

COMMITTEES

66 SPECIALISED TECHNICAL COMMITTEES (STCs)The African Union (AU) Constitutive Act provides for the establishment of Specialised Technical Committees (STCs) as organs of the Union (article 5), reporting to the Executive Council (article 14). The process of operationalising the STCs was completed in 2017.

PurposeThe purpose of the STCs is to work in close collaboration with AUC departments to ensure the harmonisation of AU projects and programmes as well as coordination with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). Article 15 of the Constitutive Act provides that each committee shall, within its field of competence: • Prepare AU projects and programmes and submit them to the Executive Council for approval• Ensure the supervision, follow-up and evaluation of the implementation of decisions taken

by AU organs• Ensure the coordination and harmonisation of AU projects and programmes • Submit to the Executive Council, either on its own initiative or at the request of the

Executive Council, reports and recommendations on the implementation of the provisions of the Constitutive Act

• Carry out any other functions assigned to it for the purpose of ensuring the implementation of the provisions of the Constitutive Act.

Each STC develops its own Rules of Procedure to define its detailed activities and functions, and submits these to the Executive Council for approval.

EvolutionSTCs were originally created under the 1991 Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty), article 25, and subsequently carried over from the OAU to the AU in the Constitutive Act, articles 5 and 14–16, under the name Specialised Technical Committees. The STCs were not operationalised under the OAU and their functions were carried out by sectorial ministerial conferences. The Constitutive Act initially provided for seven STCs, and for the Assembly to restructure established committees or establish new ones. At its 12th Ordinary Session, held in February 2009, the Assembly reconfigured the STCs and enlarged the number to 14, to make the structure and thematic focus consistent with AUC portfolios (Assembly/AU/Dec.227(XII)).

In July 2011, at its 17th Ordinary Session, the Assembly requested the Commission to operationalise the STCs from January 2013 and to abolish the sectorial ministerial conferences. In June 2015, at its 25th Ordinary Session, the AU Assembly decided to empower the STCs to take decisions on issues falling under their respective competencies, except where there are attendant financial and structural implications (Assembly/AU/Dec.582(XXV)). In addition, the Assembly decided that the Executive Council may consider STC decisions at the request of any Member State.

StructureEach STC is composed of Member States’ ministers and senior officials responsible for sectors falling within their respective areas of competence.

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MeetingsFour of the STCs usually meet in ordinary session once a year and the other 10 usually once every two years. The four that usually meet once a year are the STCs on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment; Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration; Defence, Safety and Security; and Justice and Legal Affairs (see Assembly/AU/Dec.365(XVII) of July 2011 and Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI) of January 2016). All STCs can also hold extraordinary sessions, in accordance with their respective Rules of Procedure.

STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration The STC is the prime forum for African ministers responsible for finance, economy, planning, integration and economic development, as well as central bank governors, to discuss matters about the development of Africa. In addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes following up on implementation of the integration agenda for the continent.

The STC first met in March 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session once a year. In a break from the practice of the AU Conference of Ministers Responsible for Economy and Finance meeting concurrently with the Conference of African Ministers of Finance, Planning and Economic Development of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), the STC now meets independently. The STC’s first such meeting was held in October 2017. The fourth Ordinary Session was to be held in March 2020 in Accra, Ghana, but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. An extraordinary session was held in December 2020 by videoconference.

Bureau: from March 2019

Chairperson: Cameroon

First Vice-Chairperson: Nigeria

Second Vice-Chairperson: Libya

Third Vice-Chairperson: Lesotho

Rapporteur: Sudan

STC on Social Development, Labour and Employment In addition to the functions provided for in the Constitutive Act, the STC promotes and develops cooperation among African countries in the field of social development related to the reduction of exclusion and inequality through programmes on: social agenda and social protection, labour, employment, productivity and poverty alleviation, the informal economy, harmful practices and vulnerable populations, including older people and disabled people. The STC reviews and harmonises Member States’ policies and legislation, and coordinates Common African Positions to advance African interests, promote tripartism and freedom of association, collective bargaining and decent work. The STC also reviews and assesses progress made by Member States and Regional Economic Communities (RECs) in implementing the various instruments and policies that advance social protection.

The STC first met in April 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The third Ordinary Session was held in April 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Bureau: from April 2019

Chairperson: Burkina Faso

First Vice-Chairperson: Uganda

Second Vice-Chairperson: Chad

Third Vice-Chairperson: Namibia

Rapporteur: Algeria

68 STC on Health, Population and Drug Control In addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC reviews progress on the implementation of continental policies, strategies, programmes and decisions in its sector. The STC also identifies areas of cooperation and establishes mechanisms for regional, continental and global cooperation. It further serves to elaborate Common African Positions in its three areas, and advises relevant AU policy organs on priority programmes and their impact on improving lives.

The STC first met in April 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The second Ordinary Session was held in March 2017 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the third in August 2019 in Cairo, Egypt.

Bureau: from July 2019

Chairperson: Egypt

First Vice-Chairperson: Burundi

Second Vice-Chairperson: Comoros

Third Vice-Chairperson: Lesotho

Rapporteur: Sierra Leone

STC on Justice and Legal AffairsIn addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions: considering AU draft treaties and other legal instruments and submitting them to the Executive Council and Assembly for consideration and adoption; surveying international law with a view to selecting topics for codification within AU legal frameworks and submitting its recommendations to the Executive Council; and following up on issues concerning the signature, ratification/accession, domestication and implementation of OAU/AU treaties by AU Member States. All proposed legal instruments of the Union are submitted to the STC for review before submission to the Executive Council and Assembly for consideration and adoption.

The STC first met in May 2014 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session once a year. It also meets in extraordinary session based on the needs of the Union and in accordance with its Rules of Procedure. The sixth Ordinary Session was held from 23 November to 1 December 2020 by videoconference.

Bureau: from November 2019

Chairperson: Gambia

First Vice-Chairperson: to be confirmed

Second Vice-Chairperson: Eritrea

Third Vice-Chairperson: Congo

Rapporteur: Lesotho

STC on Youth, Culture and SportsIn addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes considering progress on: implementing the African Youth Charter, including the Youth Volunteer Corps, youth capacity building, and technical and vocational education and training (TVET); implementing the Charter for the African Cultural Renaissance and the Policy Framework for the Sustainable Development of Sport in Africa; establishing the Architecture for Sport Development, Architecture for Culture Development in Africa, Pan African Cultural Institute and the African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC); and implementing adult education and lifelong learning.

The STC first met in October 2014 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The third Ordinary Session was held in October 2018, and the fourth postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Bureau: from October 2018

Chairperson: Algeria

First Vice-Chairperson: Zambia

Second Vice-Chairperson: Nigeria

Third Vice-Chairperson: DR Congo

Rapporteur: Uganda

STC on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization In addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions in its sectors: developing, promoting and implementing the AU integration agenda and vision; promoting Member States’ efforts for effective governance, development and building capacity; preventing and combatting corruption; promoting post-conflict reconstruction of public services, decentralisation and local governance, and adopting innovative approaches to service delivery including through information communications technology (ICT); and developing a mechanism for promoting sustainable human settlements.

The STC first met in November 2014 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The fourth Ordinary Session was to be held in November/December 2020 but was postponed until April 2021 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Bureau: from December 2018

Chairperson: Lesotho

First Vice-Chairperson: Morocco

Second Vice-Chairperson: Tanzania

Third Vice-Chairperson: Burundi

Rapporteur: Niger

STC on Communication and Information Communications TechnologyIn addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions: overseeing development and implementation of policies on access to information and freedom of expression; overseeing promotion of the capacity of African media; promoting public investments in communication and information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure services and applications, and developing common African e-strategies; discussing resource mobilisation and capacity building for implementation of the African Regional Action Plan on the knowledge economy; promoting public investment in ICT infrastructure; and developing frameworks for ICT policy and regulation harmonisation in Africa.

The STC first met in September 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The third Ordinary Session was held in October 2019 in Sharm el Sheikh, Egypt, and the fourth is scheduled for September 2021.

Bureau: from October 2019

Chairperson: Egypt

First Vice-Chairperson: Burundi

Second Vice-Chairperson: Malawi

Third Vice-Chairperson: Sierra Leone

Rapporteur: Djibouti

70 STC on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS)The main mandate of the Specialised Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS) is to provide guidance and direction to the AUC on matters of defence and security. In addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STCDSS is responsible for the enhancement of the Continental Early Warning System; implementation of the Common African Defence and Security Policy; implementation of the AU Policy on Post-Conflict Stabilisation; implementation of the AU Policy Framework on Security Sector Reform; the operationalisation and continuous enhancement of the African Standby Force’s (ASF’s) Planning Elements, the ASF’s civilian, military and police components, and its Rapid Deployment Capability (RDC); facilitation and coordination through AU policy organs of AU Member States’ police, intelligence and other security institutions in the fight against transnational crime, illicit arms proliferation, cybercrime and terrorism; implementation of the AU Border Programme (AUBP); and any other functions and tasks as may be assigned to it by the Executive Council or the Assembly. The STCDSS meets at three levels: experts, chiefs of defence staff and ministers of defence.

The STCDSS meets in ordinary session once a year and in extraordinary session when required (see Assembly/AU/Dec.365(XVII)). The 12th Ordinary Session was held in December 2019 in Cairo, Egypt, and the 13th Ordinary Session in November 2020 by videoconference. The third Extraordinary Session was held by videoconference in late January 2021.

Bureau: from January 2020

Chairperson: South Africa

First Vice-Chairperson: DR Congo

Second Vice-Chairperson: Mali

Third Vice-Chairperson: Kenya

Rapporteur: Egypt

STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and EnvironmentIn addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions in its sectors: reviewing strategic goals and identifying synergies and linkages, as well as implications for achieving the overarching goals of the Malabo Declaration on Accelerated Agricultural Growth and Transformation for Shared Prosperity and Improved Livelihoods (of June 2014); boosting the agenda for attaining food and nutrition security; reducing poverty; boosting intra-African trade; conserving Africa’s wild fauna and flora; and enhancing resilience to climate change, related shocks and disasters.

The STC first met in October 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The third Ordinary Session was held in October 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and the fourth is scheduled for October 2021.

Bureau: October 2019

Chairperson: South Africa

First Vice-Chairperson: Egypt

Second Vice-Chairperson: South Sudan

Third Vice-Chairperson: Chad

Rapporteur: Burkina Faso

STC on Education, Science and TechnologyIn addition to the functions provided for in the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions in its sectors: elaborating on, adopting and monitoring implementation of the African Continental Strategy for Education and the Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training;

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ensuring Member States provide education data to the African Observatory for Education and the African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI); establishing performance indicators for and receiving reports from relevant national, regional and continental agencies and institutions; monitoring implementation of the Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024); engaging with Member States, international development partners and the African diaspora to mobilise resources; and overseeing the promotion, coordination and strengthening of programmes in response to the Sustainable Development Goals.

The STC first met in November 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The second Ordinary Session was held in October 2017, and the third was held in December 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Bureau: from December 2019

Chairperson: Uganda

First Vice-Chairperson: Central African Republic

Second Vice-Chairperson: Namibia

Third Vice-Chairperson: Libya

Rapporteur: Senegal

STC on Trade, Industry and MineralsIn addition to the functions provided in article 15 of the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions in its sectors: formulating recommendations on continental trade, industry and mineral resources; developing programmes and projects in line with the Africa Mining Vision and the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) Action Plan; and developing common views, positions and strategies for Africa’s engagement in international trade, industry and mineral resource negotiations.

The STC first met in May 2016 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The second Ordinary Session was held in January 2019.

Bureau: from January 2019

Chairperson: Morocco

First Vice-Chairperson: Eswatini

Second Vice-Chairperson: Gabon

Third Vice-Chairperson: Djibouti

Rapporteur: Sierra Leone

STC on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment In addition to the functions provided for in article 15 of the AU Constitutive Act, and in accordance with rule 5 of the STC’s Rules of Procedure, the mandate of the STC includes to advance gender equality and women’s empowerment in Africa. The STC leads, among other things, the formulation of decisions, policies and African Common Positions; advocacy for the ratification, implementation and domestication of AU legal and policy instruments; advocacy at national, continental and global levels; fundraising in support of the AU’s gender agenda; advocacy for the protection, promotion and respect of women’s human rights; and promotion of sharing and learning of best practices among Member States.

The STC’s first Ordinary Session was held in November 2015, in Khartoum, Sudan. The STC meets once a year. The Bureau is elected every two years on a rotational basis. The fourth Ordinary Session was held from 28 October to 1 November 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The fifth Ordinary Session was held on 23, 24 and 27 November 2020 by videoconference.

72 Bureau: from November 2020

Chairperson: Benin

First Vice-Chairperson: Uganda

Second Vice-Chairperson: to be appointed (Northern Africa)

Third Vice-Chairperson: Zimbabwe

Rapporteur: DR Congo (interim pending consultations by the Central Africa region)

STC on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) In addition to the functions provided for in article 15 of the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions in its sectors: strengthening mechanisms for effective humanitarian response on the continent through establishment of an African humanitarian agency; strengthening protection and assistance for populations in need of humanitarian assistance, including through the formulation and implementation of AU guidelines; strengthening measures to popularise international humanitarian law and principled action; discussing Africa’s first comprehensive Humanitarian Policy Framework, including guidelines on disaster management, epidemic response, and the role of the African Standby Force in humanitarian and disaster situations.

The STC first met in November 2015 and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. The third Ordinary Session was held in November 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Bureau: from November 2019

Chairperson: Mali

First Vice-Chairperson: Zambia

Second Vice-Chairperson: DR Congo

Third Vice-Chairperson: Libya

Rapporteur: Rwanda

STC on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism (STC-TTIIET)In addition to the functions provided for in article 15 of the AU Constitutive Act, the STC’s Rules of Procedure, rule 5, includes the following powers and functions in its sectors: elaborating continental policies, development strategies, regulations, standards and programmes for transport, infrastructure, energy and tourism; ensuring oversight, monitoring and evaluation of decisions; ensuring coordination of programmes and projects; and monitoring relations with international partners.

The STC first met in March 2017, in Lomé, Togo, and is scheduled to meet in ordinary session every two years. Amongst other things, the STC recognised the Ministerial Working Group on Air Transport on the Establishment of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM). The Ministerial Working Group is composed of countries that have subscribed to the solemn commitment towards the establishment of SAATM, which is an Agenda 2063 flagship project. The group meets twice a year. The second Ordinary Session of the STC was held in April 2019 in Cairo, Egypt, and the third is scheduled for 2021.

Bureau: from April 2019

Chairperson: Egypt

First Vice-Chairperson: Lesotho

Second Vice-Chairperson: Somalia

Third Vice-Chairperson: DR Congo

Rapporteur: Togo

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL

74 PEACE AND SECURITY COUNCIL (PSC)The Peace and Security Council (PSC) is the main pillar of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), which is the framework for promoting peace, security and stability in Africa. It was established as a standing decision-making organ of the African Union (AU) for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts. It is also a collective security and early warning arrangement intended to facilitate timely and efficient responses to conflict and crisis situations in Africa.

The PSC was established pursuant to article 5(2) of the AU Constitutive Act (2000), and is specifically provided for under article 20 (bis) as inserted by article 9 of the Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act (2003). The Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council (PSC Protocol) was adopted on 9 July 2002 in Durban, South Africa, and entered into force in December 2003. The PSC became fully operational in early 2004. The PSC Protocol, together with the PSC Rules of Procedure, the AU Constitutive Act and the conclusions of various PSC retreats, provides operational guidance to PSC activities.

Under article 7 of the PSC Protocol, the powers of the PSC include to: • Anticipate and prevent disputes and conflicts, as well as policies, that may lead to genocide

and crimes against humanity• Undertake peacemaking and peacebuilding functions to resolve conflicts where they have

occurred• Authorise the mounting and deployment of peace support missions, and lay down general

guidelines for the conduct of such missions, including the mandate• Recommend to the Assembly, pursuant to article 4(h) of the AU Constitutive Act,

intervention, on behalf of the Union, in a Member State in respect of grave circumstances, namely, war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity as defined in relevant international instruments

• Institute sanctions whenever an unconstitutional change of government takes place in a Member State

• Implement the AU’s common defence policy • Ensure implementation of key conventions and instruments to combat international terrorism • Promote harmonisation and coordination of efforts between the Regional Mechanisms (RMs)

and the AU in the promotion of peace, security and stability in Africa • Follow up promotion of democratic practices, good governance, the rule of law, protection

of human rights and fundamental freedoms, and respect for the sanctity of human life and international humanitarian law

• Promote and encourage the implementation of conventions and treaties on arms control and disarmament

• Examine and take action in situations where the national independence and sovereignty of a Member State are threatened by acts of aggression, including by mercenaries

• Support and facilitate humanitarian action in situations of armed conflicts or major natural disasters.

Evolution The PSC is the successor to the OAU Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution. The Central Organ was the OAU’s operational body mandated to make decisions on matters of peace and security in Africa. It was composed of nine and later 14 Member States. Like the PSC, the organ operated at summit, minister and ambassador levels.

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StructureThe PSC has 15 members with equal voting powers. All members are elected by the AU Executive Council and endorsed by the AU Assembly during its ordinary sessions. Ten members are elected to serve for two-year terms while five members are elected to serve for three-year terms in order to ensure continuity. While there are no permanent members, the PSC Protocol does not prevent any PSC Member State from seeking immediate re-election.

In electing members of the PSC, the AU Assembly applies the principle of equitable regional representation and rotation as follows: • Central Africa: three seats• Eastern Africa: three seats• Northern Africa: two seats• Southern Africa: three seats• Western Africa: four seats.

Article 5(2) of the PSC Protocol outlines the criteria used in electing PSC members, which include: contribution to the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in Africa; participation in conflict resolution, peacemaking and peacebuilding at regional and continental levels; willingness and ability to take up responsibility for regional and continental conflict resolution initiatives; contribution to the Peace Fund and/or Special Fund; respect for constitutional governance, the rule of law and human rights; and commitment to AU financial obligations.

Article 8(6) of the PSC Protocol provides that the Chair shall be held in turn by the members, using the English alphabetical order for the names of the Member States.

The PSC Secretariat was established in line with article 10(4) of the PSC Protocol. It provides direct technical and operational support to the PSC and is housed within the Peace and Security Department at the AU Headquarters (from 2021, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) under the new AUC structure).

Article 2(2) of the PSC Protocol provides that the PSC shall be assisted by the AUC, Continental Early Warning System, Panel of the Wise, African Standby Force and the Peace Fund. The PSC also works in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution; the UN Security Council and other similar international organisations; civil society organisations; and other AU organs, including the Pan-African Parliament and the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights.

MeetingsThe PSC meets in continuous session. All members are required to keep a permanent presence at AU Headquarters. Meetings can be held at three levels: permanent representatives, ministers, or Heads of State and Government. Article 8(2) of the PSC Protocol requires permanent representatives to meet at least twice a month, and ministers and Heads of State and Government at least once a year. PSC meetings include closed sessions, open meetings and informal consultations.

PSC decisions are adopted using the principle of consensus. Where consensus is not possible, decisions on procedural matters are taken by a simple majority, and on substantive matters by a two-thirds majority (PSC Protocol, article 8(13)). In line with article 8(9) of the PSC Protocol, any Member State that is party to a conflict or situation under consideration by the PSC may be invited to attend a PSC meeting but does not participate in the discussion and decision-making process relating to that particular conflict or situation.

76 The PSC’s provisional agenda is determined by the chairperson of the month on the basis of proposals from the Chairperson of the AU Commission and Member States. The Chairperson of the Commission may bring to the PSC’s attention any matter that may threaten peace, security and stability on the continent, and may request briefings from PSC committees and other AU organs and institutions. The inclusion of any item on the provisional agenda may not be opposed by any Member State.

Members1

Five Member States were elected in February 2019 for three-year terms beginning on 1 April 2019 (Assembly/AU/Dec.742(XXXII)). Ten Member States were elected in February 2020 for two-year terms beginning on 1 April 2020 (Assembly/AU/Dec.785(XXXIII)).

Members: 1 April 2020 to 31 March 2022 (10 members serving 2-year terms)

Central Africa: Cameroon and ChadEastern Africa: Djibouti and EthiopiaNorthern Africa: Egypt Southern Africa: Malawi and MozambiqueWestern Africa: Benin, Ghana and Senegal

Members: 1 April 2019 to 31 March 2022 (5 members serving 3-year terms)

Central Africa: BurundiEastern Africa: KenyaNorthern Africa: Algeria Southern Africa: Lesotho Western Africa: Nigeria

Previous members

Central AfricaBurundi ...............................................................................................................2008–12 14–16 16–18Cameroon ......................................................................................................2004–08 12–14Chad .........................................................................................................................2008–12 14–16 16–18Congo Republic .................................................................................2004–08 12–14 16–19Equatorial Guinea............................................................................2010–13 13–16 18–20 Gabon ....................................................................................................................2004–10 18–20

Eastern Africa Djibouti ........................................................ 2010–12 12–14 18–20Ethiopia ....................................................... 2004–10 14–16Kenya .......................................................... 2004–06 10–13 16–19Rwanda....................................................... 2006–12 16–18 18–20Sudan .......................................................... 2004–06Tanzania ..................................................... 2012–14 14–16Uganda ....................................................... 2006–10 13–16 16–18

Northern AfricaAlgeria ......................................................... 2004–10 13–16 16–18Egypt ........................................................... 2006–08 12–14 16–19

Note1 Countries that have never served on the PSC are not listed.

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Libya ............................................................ 2004–06 10–13 14–16Mauritania .................................................. 2010–12Morocco ..................................................... 2018–20 Tunisia ......................................................... 2008–10

Southern AfricaAngola ......................................................... 2012–14 18–20Botswana .................................................... 2006–08 16–18Eswatini ....................................................... 2008–10Lesotho ....................................................... 2004–06 12–14Malawi ......................................................... 2006–08Mozambique .............................................. 2004–06 13–16 Namibia ...................................................... 2010–12 14–16South Africa ............................................... 2004–12 14–16 16–18Zambia ........................................................ 2008–10 16–19Zimbabwe .................................................. 2010–13 18–20

Western AfricaBenin ........................................................... 2008–12Burkina Faso ............................................. 2006–10Côte d’Ivoire ............................................... 2010–12 12–14Gambia ....................................................... 2012–14 14–16Ghana ......................................................... 2004–08Guinea ........................................................ 2012–14 14–16Liberia ......................................................... 2018–20 Mali .............................................................. 2008–12Niger ............................................................ 2014–16 16–18Nigeria......................................................... 2004–06 07–13 13–16 16–19Senegal ....................................................... 2004–08Sierra Leone .............................................. 2016–18 18–20Togo ............................................................ 2004–06 16–18 18–20

PSC Subsidiary BodiesThe PSC Protocol, article 8(5), empowers the PSC to establish subsidiary bodies as it deems necessary and seek such military, legal and other forms of expertise as it may require. The PSC Rules of Procedure, with the necessary modifications, apply to its subsidiary bodies. As of December 2020, the following two subsidiary committees were fully operational.

Committee of ExpertsThe Committee of Experts was established under article 8(5) of the PSC Protocol. At the request of the PSC, it assists in elaborating draft PSC working documents, including the outcomes of PSC activities. The Committee is composed of 15 designated experts, each representing a PSC Member State. It is supported by officers from the PSC Secretariat.

Military Staff CommitteeThe Military Staff Committee was established in line with the provisions of article 13(8) of the PSC Protocol. It advises and assists the PSC in all questions relating to military and security requirements for the promotion and maintenance of peace and security in Africa. The Protocol provides for the Committee to comprise senior military representatives from the 15 PSC

78 Member States, chaired by the military/defence attaché of the Member State chairing the PSC in any given month. The Committee can invite any AU Member State to its meetings to assist with its work. Rules of Procedure for the Committee are yet to be adopted.

PSC High-Level Panels

African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan The African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan was established by the PSC on 29 October 2009 at its 207th Heads of State and Government meeting (PSC/AHG/COMM.1(CCVII)). The Panel has been mandated by the PSC to promote a regional and holistic approach to the challenges of peace, security, stability and development in the Horn of Africa. The mandate includes facilitating negotiations relating to South Sudan’s independence from Sudan, including issues such as oil, security, citizenship, assets and the common border.

The AUHIP is the successor of the earlier AU High-Level Panel on Darfur (AUPD), which was established by the PSC on 21 July 2008 at its 142nd meeting (Communiqué PSC/MIN/Comm(CXLII)). The AUPD was mandated to examine the situation in depth and submit recommendations to the AU Executive Council on issues of accountability, potentially including through truth and/or reconciliation commissions supported by the AU and the international community. In November 2018, the PSC adopted a decision on the activities of the AUHIP (PSC/PR/COMM.(DCCCXI)). At the same meeting, the PSC requested the AUHIP to intensify its engagements within the region in pursuit of a holistic approach to the linked strategic issues of peace, security and development in the Horn of Africa, and to promote and sustain multilateral partnerships between the AU, the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD), the UN and the inter-state organisations of the Arabian Peninsula, on behalf of the AU Commission, in full consultation with the AU Chairperson, the Commissioner for Peace and Security (since 2021, the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security under the new AUC structure) and the Chairperson of IGAD.

The AUHIP is chaired by Thabo Mbeki, a former President of South Africa, and includes the AU Special Envoy for Silencing the Guns, Ramtane Lamamra. Initially, its other members included Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar, a former President of Nigeria, who has since retired, and the late Pierre Buyoya, a former President of Burundi, who passed away in December 2020.

The Panel works with the UN Special Representative for the Horn of Africa, Parfait Onanga-Anyanga, and the IGAD Special Envoy for Somalia, Red Sea and the Gulf of Aden, Mohamed Ali Guyo.

In 2011, the AU Commission appointed Boitshoko Mokgatlhe, Botswana, as facilitator for the Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC), and he also works with the AUHIP. The AUHIP is also supported by, amongst others, the AU Liaison Office in Sudan and the AU Mission in South Sudan.

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AFRICAN PEACE AND SECURITY ARCHITECTURE (APSA)The African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) is a mechanism established to comprehensively address peace and security issues in a coordinated manner between the AU and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution. Established under the AU Constitutive Act (2000) and the Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council (2002), APSA is built around defined structures that include the Peace and Security Council (PSC), the standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts, the AU Commission, the Panel of the Wise (POW), the Continental Early Warning System (CEWS), the African Standby Force (ASF) and the Peace Fund. Additional components of APSA are the Military Staff Committee, a subsidiary body of the PSC, the Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise-Africa), a subsidiary mechanism of the POW, and the African Union Child Protection Architecture, established by the AU Assembly in 2019 as a sub-set of APSA.

As a rule-based mechanism, APSA has become the foundation of interventions in peace and security in Africa. Collaboration between the RECs and RMs on peace and security matters is guided by the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Area of Peace and Security between the AU and RECs, signed in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on 28 January 2008.

The implementation of APSA is guided by roadmaps in order to increase its impact. Under the 2016–20 Roadmap, the AU and RECs/RMs agreed to concentrate on five strategic priorities: conflict prevention, crisis and conflict management, post-conflict reconstruction and peace building, strategic security issues, and coordination and partnerships. An important aspect of the Roadmap emphasises the need to mainstream and address cross-cutting issues such as youth, gender, children in situations of conflict, human rights and climate change. As the Political Affairs and the Peace and Security Departments of the AU Commission merge into the newly established Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), the process of aligning APSA with the African Governance Architecture (AGA) has started through the establishment of a joint APSA–AGA Secretariat.

Information about the PAPS and a list of Special Envoys and Representatives appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission are in the AUC chapter of this book.

Panel of the Wise

PurposeThe Panel of the Wise (POW) is one of the critical pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). Article 11 of the Protocol establishing the PSC set up a five-person panel of “highly respected African personalities from various segments of society who have made outstanding contributions to the cause of peace, security and development on the continent” with the task “to support the efforts of the PSC and those of the Chairperson of the Commission, particularly in the area of conflict prevention”. The mandate of the Panel is to:• Advise the Chairperson of the PSC and the Chairperson of the Commission on all issues

pertaining to the promotion and maintenance of peace, security and stability in Africa• Undertake all such actions deemed appropriate to support the efforts of the Council and

those of the Chairperson of the Commission for the prevention of conflicts• When necessary, and in the form it considers most appropriate, pronounce itself on any

issue relating to the promotion and maintenance of peace, security and stability in Africa

80 • Carry out conflict mediation and broker peace agreements between warring parties• Help the Commission in mapping out threats to peace and security by providing regular

advice and analysis, and requesting the Commission to deploy fact-finding missions or mediation teams to specific countries.

Meetings The Panel of the Wise meets as often as required but is mandated to meet at least three times a year to deliberate on the peace and security situation on the continent, including providing horizon-scanning briefings to the PSC, setting its programme of work and identifying regions or countries to undertake prevention and good offices engagements. The Panel also organises annual workshops on issues related to conflict prevention and management, to facilitate the production of thematic reports, which are submitted to the Assembly for endorsement.

MembersThe five members of the Panel are appointed by the AU Assembly following recommendations by the Chairperson of the Commission after consultations with concerned Member States. Members of the Panel are mandated to serve for three-year terms, renewable once. Members cannot hold political office at the time of their appointment or during their term on the Panel. Each member is drawn from one of the AU’s five regions. The Modalities for the Functioning of the Panel of the Wise provide for a chairperson who is elected on a rotational basis for a one-year term.

Panel MembersSince 2007, there have been four cohorts of Panel members. Processes for the selection and appointment of the fifth cohort of Panel members are ongoing.

First Panel: 2007–10

Central Africa: Miguel Trovoada, a former President of São Tomé and PríncipeEastern Africa: Salim Ahmed Salim, a former Secretary-General of the OAU Northern Africa: Ahmed Ben Bella (Chairperson), a former President of AlgeriaSouthern Africa: Brigalia Bam, a former Chairperson of the Independent Electoral Commission

of South Africa Western Africa: Elisabeth Pognon, a former President of the Constitutional Court of Benin

Second Panel: 2010–142

Central Africa: Marie Madeleine Kalala-Ngoy, a former Human Rights Minister of DR Congo Eastern Africa: Salim Ahmed Salim (second term), a former Secretary-General of the OAUNorthern Africa: Ahmed Ben Bella (second term; until April 2012),3 a former President of AlgeriaSouthern Africa: Kenneth Kaunda, a former President of Zambia Western Africa: Mary Chinery-Hesse, a former UN Under-Secretary-General, a former Deputy

Director-General of the International Labour Organization (ILO) and a former Chief Adviser to President John Kufuor (Ghana)

Notes2 The second panel (2010–14) was extended for one year.3 Panel member and Chairperson Ahmed Ben Bella died in April 2012 and was not replaced.

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Third Panel: 2014–17

Central Africa: Albina Faria de Assis Pereira Africano, a former government minister and Special Adviser to the President of Angola

Eastern Africa: Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, a former Vice-President of UgandaNorthern Africa: Lakhdar Brahimi, a former Foreign Minister of Algeria and former Arab League

and United Nations Special Envoy for SyriaSouthern Africa: Luísa Diogo, a former Prime Minister of MozambiqueWestern Africa: Edem Kodjo, a former Prime Minister of Togo and a former Secretary-General

of the OAU

Fourth Panel: from 2017

Central Africa: Honorine Nzet Bitéghé, a former Minister for Social Affairs of GabonEastern Africa: Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, a former Vice-President of UgandaNorthern Africa: Amr Moussa, Egypt, a former Secretary-General of the League of Arab States

(Chairperson)Southern Africa: Hifikepunye Pohamba, a former President of Namibia Western Africa: Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, a former President of Liberia (took up the role after the

inauguration of the new President of Liberia in January 2018)

Friends of the Panel of the WiseDuring the July 2010 AU Summit in Kampala, Uganda, the Assembly supported enhancing the Panel’s capacity by establishing a team of ‘Friends of the Panel of the Wise’ (Assembly/AU/Dec.310(XV)). The Friends of the Panel of the Wise is composed of outgoing members of the Panel of the Wise who are tasked to support the incoming Panel in its activities, such as fact-finding missions, engagement in formal negotiations and follow-up on recommendations. The Friends enjoy the same privileges and entitlements as the Panel members.

Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise)The Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise) was established through a decision of the AU Assembly in May 2013 (Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXI)). PanWise fosters coordination and collaboration between the PSC, the Panel of Wise and similar structures within the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Regional Mechanisms (RMs) to promote a more concerted and inclusive approach to preventive diplomacy, mediation and peaceful resolution of disputes within the context of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The umbrella network brings together as core members the AU Panel of the Wise, Friends of the Panel of the Wise and its existing and future counterparts at the RECs/RMs. These include the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) Committee of Elders; the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Council of the Wise; the Southern African Development Community (SADC) Mediation Reference Group and Panel of Elders; and the Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) Roster of Mediators. Secretariats of the RECs/RMs that are yet to establish and operationalise similar structures are part of the network. The network also includes institutions such as national infrastructures for peace, partners and personalities working on conflict prevention and mediation, for example, former African Heads of States and African mediation associations. Where necessary, the AU Chairperson, AU Special Envoys and Representatives, Chief Mediators and their mediation teams are invited to participate in the network’s activities.

82 Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise-Africa)A subsidiary mechanism of the Panel of the Wise, FemWise-Africa is a network of African women in conflict prevention and mediation. It was officially established in line with Assembly decision 21(XXIX) of July 2017. The network brings together African women from various backgrounds, professional experiences and areas of expertise who are or have been engaged in conflict prevention and Track 1, 2 and/or 3 (official, unofficial and/or individual) mediation efforts. The network provides a platform for strategic advocacy, capacity building and networking aimed at actualising the commitment of women’s inclusion in peacemaking in Africa. It encourages the promotion of women in conflict prevention and mediation across all levels, especially at grassroots, with the objective of contributing to gender-sensitive and inclusive approaches to conflict prevention and mediation.

The FemWise-Africa structure includes a steering committee, an assembly and a secretariat. As of March 2021, the Steering Committee was co-chaired by Catherine Samba-Panza, a former President of the Central African Republic, and Speciosa Wandira Kazibwe, a former Vice-President of Uganda and current member of the Panel of the Wise. The Steering Committee provides strategic guidance to the Secretariat; reflects on the network’s activities, including inputs on the annual work plan and review; and approves membership accreditation applications. The Assembly comprises all members of the network, which as of March 2021 stood at 465 members.

The Secretariat is located within the Panel of the Wise Secretariat of the Mediation and Dialogue Division of the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) at the AU Commission Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The Secretariat coordinates, harmonises and monitors the activities of the network through relevant structures within PAPS and through PanWise to the Panel of the Wise. The Secretariat also manages the network’s relations with other pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA), the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and Gender Architecture as well as other relevant stakeholders including training, research and policy institutions.

African Union Mediation Support Unit (AU MSU)The AU Mediation Support Unit (AU MSU) is an AU Commission-wide mechanism established to deliver systematic and sustained support to the mediation work of the AU, including through the Panel of the Wise (see AU Assembly decision 558(XXIV) of January 2015 and the PSC 665th meeting communiqué of March 2017). The MSU was operationalised in March 2019 and forms part of AUC’s efforts to enhance the effectiveness of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA).

The core functions of the AU MSU are to institutionalise and strengthen the mediation efforts of the AU through the establishment of a systematic mechanism that offers technical and operational support to AU-led or AU-supported mediation efforts; serve as the main anchor of all AU-supported mediation efforts, ensuring coordination, coherence and complementarity of mediation efforts within the AU Commission and with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs)/Regional Mechanisms (RMs) and other actors; strengthen the mediation capacity of the AU in collaboration with the RECs/RMs and other actors; and serve as the AU’s institutional repository of knowledge, lessons learned and best practices on mediation.

The AU MSU was established in collaboration with the AUC Department of Political Affairs and is located within the Peace and Security Department’s Crisis Management and Post-Conflict Reconstruction Development (CMPCRD) Division. As of March 2021, it had three staff. The

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Unit will partner with African centres of excellence and civil society organisations to roll out training programmes. (Under the new AUC structure from 2021, the Department of Political Affairs and the Peace and Security Department became the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS).)

Continental Early Warning System (CEWS)

Purpose The Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) was established in line with the PSC Protocol, article 12, as one of the pillars of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA). The main objective of CEWS is to anticipate and prevent conflicts on the continent, and to provide timely information about evolving violent conflicts, based on specifically developed indicators.

CEWS consists of the:• Situation Room, located in the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) • Observation and Monitoring Centres of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs).

The Situation Room, which is the hub of CEWS, operates 24 hours a day, including weekends and holidays, in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Its main task is information monitoring and data collection on simmering, potential, actual and post-conflict initiatives and activities in Africa. The Situation Room monitors and reports information in order to facilitate timely and informed decision-making.

CEWS is also working in structural prevention of conflict and has developed two tools – the Country Structural Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment (CSVRA) and the Country Structural Vulnerability Mitigation Strategies (CSVMS) – that aim to strengthen the capacity of Member States to identify and address structural vulnerabilities at an early stage and build more resilient and prosperous nations. This work is part of the AU’s Continental Structural Conflict Prevention Framework (CSCPF).

The PSC Protocol, article 12, also provides for coordination and collaboration with international organisations, research centres, academic institutions and non-governmental organisations (NGOs) to facilitate the functioning of CEWS. The Framework for the Operationalisation of CEWS, adopted by the Executive Council in 2007, stresses the importance of collaboration with civil society organisations (CSOs) and conflict prevention as a prerequisite to achieving peace, security and stability in Africa.

EvolutionThe operationalisation of CEWS over the years has included the development and implementation of different methods, processes and systems that ensure collection, analysis and dissemination of early warning information on current and potential conflicts.

CEWS continues to provide timely information on potential threats to peace and security on the continent through the production of early warning reports and regular horizon scanning briefings, as well as breakfast briefings by the Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security (formerly Commissioner for Peace and Security).

To strengthen the relationship with the RECs and Regional Mechanisms (RMs), as well as to enhance the Commission’s role in the areas of peace and security and conflict prevention across Africa, CEWS has been engaged in the provision of technical support to the RECs that are at various levels of establishment. Regular technical meetings are now avenues for discussing substantive issues with the early warning mechanisms of the RECs. Joint early warning reports have also become common practice.

84 Peace Fund Under article 21 of the PSC Protocol (2002), the role of the Peace Fund is to provide “the necessary financial resources for peace support missions and other operational activities related to peace and security”. The Protocol provides for the Peace Fund to be made up of financial appropriations from the regular AU budget; voluntary contributions from Member States, international partners and other sources, such as the private sector, civil society and individuals; and fundraising activities. The Chairperson of the AUC is mandated to raise and accept voluntary contributions from sources outside Africa, in conformity with the AU’s objectives and principles.

The PSC Protocol also envisaged a revolving trust fund within the broader Peace Fund that would provide a standing reserve for specific projects in case of emergencies and unforeseen priorities. The level of funding required in the revolving trust fund is to be determined by the relevant AU policy organs on recommendation by the PSC.

In January 2016, the Chairperson of the AU Commission appointed Donald Kaberuka, a Rwandan economist, former Minister of Finance and former President of the African Development Bank, as the AUC High Representative for the Peace Fund. His mandate includes identifying and mobilising resources for AU peace and security-related activities in order to assist the AU to meet its commitment of providing 25 percent of the cost of AU-led peace support operations (PSOs) by 2020 (see Assembly/AU/Dec.577(XXV) and Assembly/AU/Dec.578(XXV) of June 2015, and Assembly/AU/Dec.561(XXIV) of January 2015).

AU Assembly decision 605(XXVII) of July 2016 included adopting recommendations for the Peace Fund to have three thematic windows: Mediation and Preventive Diplomacy, Institutional Capacity and Peace Operations; clear governance structures; and independent fund management. In April 2017, the Chairperson of the AU Commission decided to expand Dr Kaberuka’s mandate to include the overall funding of the AU. In January 2018, the AU Assembly decided, as part of institutional reform of the Union, to adopt the Instrument Relating to the Enhanced Governance and Management Structure of the Peace Fund (Assembly/AU/Dec.687(XXX)).

Since 2017, AU Member States have contributed almost US$205 million to the Peace Fund (Assembly/AU/Dec.802(XXXIV) of February 2021). The target year for full US$400 million endowment is 2023. (See Assembly/AU/Dec.752(XXXIII) and Assembly/AU/Dec.755(XXXIII) of February 2020, and EX.CL/Dec.1100(XXXVII) of October 2020).

For more information about financing of the Union, see https://au.int/en/aureforms/financing.

African Standby Force (ASF)ASF Chief of Staff, Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), AUC: Brian John Chikonzo,

Zimbabwe (appointed in May 2020) 

The Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council (2002, article 13(1) and (2)) provides for an African Standby Force (ASF) to enable the PSC to perform its responsibilities with respect to the deployment of peace support operations (PSOs) under article 4(h) and (j) of the AU Constitutive Act (2000). The same provisions call for the ASF to be multidimensional and composed of pledged capabilities comprising military, police and civilian components on standby in their countries of origin, ready for rapid deployment (PSC Protocol (2002), article 13(3), (4) and (5)) to perform:• Observation and monitoring missions• Other types of peace support missions

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• Intervention in a Member State in respect of grave circumstances or at the request of a Member State in order to restore peace and security

• Prevention of a dispute or conflict from escalating• Peacebuilding, including post-conflict disarmament and demobilisation• Humanitarian assistance • Any other functions mandated by the PSC or AU Assembly.

To facilitate the operation of the ASF, several support structures form part of the ASF framework, including: Continental Planning Elements (PLANELMs) represented by the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) within the AU Commission; regional PLANELMs in the five Regional Economic Communities/Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) of the ASF; Continental Logistics Base (CLB) in Douala, Cameroon; and five Regional Logistics Depots (RLDs). A Regional Standby Force six-month rostering and scheduling system (in the English alphabetical order) began in January 2017, in line with the Declaration of the ninth Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS) that was held in June 2016.

The five ASF RECs/RMs are:

Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Standby Force

Angola (also Southern)

Burundi (also Eastern)

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo Republic

DR Congo (also Southern)

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

São Tomé and Príncipe

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF)

Burundi (also Central)

Comoros

Djibouti

Ethiopia

Kenya

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Sudan

Uganda

Observer since April 2013: South Sudan

North African Regional Capability (NARC) Standby Force

Algeria

Egypt

Libya

Mauritania

Sahrawi Republic

Tunisia

Southern African Development Community (SADC) Standby Force

Angola (also Central)

Botswana

DR Congo (also Central)

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) Standby Force (ESF)

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Côte d’Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

86 The five ASF regions and PLANELMs of ECCAS, ECOWAS, EASF, NARC and SADC coordinate their activities with the AU via their REC liaison offices at AU Headquarters.

In February 2020, the AU Assembly commended the PSC for its continued efforts towards the full operationalisation of the ASF and the AU Commission for efforts deployed in the development of various policies for the functioning of the ASF. The Assembly also called for the establishment of a special unit within the ASF for combating terrorism (see Assembly/AU/Dec.753(XXXIII) and Assembly/AU//Dec.754(XXXIII)Annex). Subsequently, the third Extraordinary Session of the STCDSS, held on 30 January 2021, adopted the AU Doctrine on Peace Support Operations, which highlights that the ASF is a framework and tool for the implementation of AU PSOs. The Doctrine will serve as the basis for the development of the ASF concept and aligning it to address current conflict trends and trajectories.

African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC)In May 2013, pending the African Standby Force (ASF) becoming fully operational, the AU Assembly established the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) as an interim mechanism for immediate response to crises (see Assembly/AU/Dec.489(XXI)). In January 2014, the AU Assembly operationalised ACIRC as a transitional arrangement (Assembly/AU/Dec.515(XXII)) with the following initial participating countries: Algeria, Angola, Chad, Niger, Senegal, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda. As of December 2020, ACIRC members also included Benin, Burkina Faso, Egypt and Rwanda. ACIRC is made up of two brigade-size forces.

The purpose of ACIRC is to provide the AU with a flexible and robust force, voluntarily provided by Member States, to effectively respond to emergency situations within the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) framework (with African solutions to African problems). This force’s rapid deployment can be authorised by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on request by an AU Member State, and is self-reliant in terms of sustainment.

In January 2018, the AU Assembly decided the ACIRC should harmonise its activities with the ASF framework (see Assembly/AU/Dec.679(XXX)). ACIRC ministers of defence met in 2019 in Pretoria, South Africa, to provide recommendations to the ACIRC Heads of State and Government Summit regarding the implementation of harmonisation of the ACIRC within the ASF framework (see Assembly/AU/Dec.755(XXXIII) of February 2020).

Peace Support OperationsThe PSC Protocol (2002) provides for peace support operations (PSOs) to be a function and tool of the PSC. Article 7(1c and d) gives the PSC powers to “authorize the mounting and deployment of peace support missions” and outlines general guidelines for the conduct of such operations. AU PSOs are also authorised by the UN Security Council in accordance with chapter VIII, article 53(1) of the UN Charter.4

The AU Commission’s Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD), also referred to as the African Standby Force Continental Planning Element, was set up in line with article 13 of the PSC Protocol (2002), and the Policy Framework on the Establishment of the African Standby Force and the Military Staff Committee (2004, article 18). PSOD is one of the six divisions

Note4 PSC communiqués can be found at www.peaceau.org under the ‘PSC’ tab. UN Security Council resolutions can be found

at www.un.org under the ‘Documents’ tab.

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within the Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Department. Its primary functions are to plan, launch, sustain and liquidate PSOs mandated by the PSC and/or the Assembly.

Fourteen AU-mandated PSOs have been deployed since 2003, as well as four AU-authorised PSOs. In addition, two humanitarian missions have been authorised to support efforts to contain the Ebola virus pandemic in West Africa and DR Congo. Each PSO has varied in nature, personnel strength, duration and budget.

Most PSO mandates are renewed periodically and may be revised if required. Funding arrangements vary between missions and include a mix of sources, such as the AU Peace Fund, as well as support from international bilateral and multilateral partners and, in some cases, UN trust funds or UN assessed contributions.

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) Headquarters: Mogadishu, Somalia;

and Nairobi Rear Support Office, KenyaTel: +254 (0) 20 721 6710 or

+254 (0) 42 350 6779 (Kenya)

Email: au-amisomhom@africa-union.org or amisomhom@gmail.comFacebook: www.facebook.com/amisom.somaliaTwitter: @amisomsomaliaWebsite: http://amisom-au.org

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AUC: Francisco Caetano José Madeira, Mozambique (appointed in October 2015)

Deputy Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AU Commission: Simon Mulongo, Uganda (appointed in August 2017)

Force Commander: Lieutenant General Diomede Ndegeya, Burundi (appointed in August 2020)Police Commissioner: Augustine Magnus Kailie, Sierra Leone (appointed in November 2019)

The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) was established by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) on 19 January 2007 (PSC/PR/Comm(LXIX)) to support the transitional federal institutions in Somalia in their efforts towards dialogue and reconciliation; facilitate humanitarian assistance; and create conditions conducive for long-term stabilisation, reconstruction and development.

AMISOM was initially deployed in Mogadishu for six months. Its mandate was subsequently extended and expanded, including an increase in operational scope and three surges in uniformed personnel. In July 2017, the PSC endorsed a gradual and phased reduction and reorganisation of AMISOM’s uniformed personnel. This aimed to provide a greater support role for the Somali National Security Forces to progressively take over primary security responsibility from AMISOM leading up to 2021 and towards achieving the objectives of the Somali Transition Plan (STP) (PSC/PR/COMM.(DCC)).

The Mission was also authorised by the UN Security Council (UNSC), most recently until 31 December 2021. UNSC resolution 2568 of March 2021 authorised AU Member States to maintain the deployment of 19,626 uniformed AMISOM personnel until 31 December 2021, inclusive of a minimum of 1040 AMISOM police personnel including five Formed Police Units, as well as 70 AMISOM civilian personnel supported by the UN Support Office in Somalia to conduct tasks in line with the STP.

In May 2020, the PSC decided to renew the mandate of AMISOM for 12 months, and in May 2021 until 31 December 2021. See PSC/PR/COMM.(CMXXIII) of May 2020, PSC/PR/COMM.(CMLXXVIII) of February 2021, PSC/PR/COMM.2(CMXCIV) of May 2021 and the PSC website www.peaceau.org for more information about AMISOM’s engagement up to 31 December 2021 and for projections about the AU’s engagement in and with Somalia post-2021.

88 AMISOM’s area of operation covers six sectors: Banadir, Lower Shabelle, Middle and Lower Jubba regions east of River Jubba; Middle Jubba and Lower Jubba west of River Jubba; Gedo, Bay and Bakool regions; Hiraan region and Galmudug IRA; Middle Shabelle regions; and Kismayo.

As of March 2021, AMISOM’s military and police contingents were from Burundi, Djibouti, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Sierra Leone and Uganda.

African Union Technical Support Team to Gambia (AUTSTG)Headquarters: Banjul, GambiaEmail: autstg.gambia@gmail.com or AUTSTG-Gambia@africa-union.orgSupervisor: Commissioner for Political Affairs, Peace and Security

The AU Technical Support Team to Gambia (AUTSTG) was deployed by the AU Commission in September 2018 to support the country’s post-Yahya Jammeh political transition (see the PSC 694th meeting communiqué of 15 June 2017). The PSC approved the deployment of a 10-member team comprising three human rights experts, a senior rule of law expert, a senior defence reform adviser and five senior military officers, based on the recommendations of a high-level multidisciplinary technical needs assessment team led by the AU High Representative for Mali and Sahel in May 2017.

The PSC at its 942nd meeting on 28 August 2020 decided to extend the mandate of the AUTSTG for four months until 31 December 2020. The PSC was expected to consider the mandate again in March 2021.

As of December 2020, there were six experts embedded in government structures: the National Human Rights Commission; Office of the National Security; Office of the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Defence; and Office of Chief of Defence Staff of the Gambia Armed Forces (GAF).

Sub-Regional Security Arrangements

Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko HaramHeadquarters: N’Djamena, Chad Email: info@mnjtf.org Facebook: @HQmnjtf Twitter: @OfficialMNJTF Force Commander: Major General I M Yusuf, Nigeria (since November 2019)

The PSC decided on 29 January 2015 to authorise the deployment of the Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) following a request from the Lake Chad Basin Commission (LCBC) Member States (Cameroon, Chad, Niger and Nigeria) and Benin. The Force was authorised for an initial 12 months, renewable, with a mandate to: create a safe and secure environment in the areas affected by the activities of Boko Haram and other terrorist groups; facilitate the implementation of overall stabilisation programmes by the LCBC Member States and Benin in the affected areas; and facilitate, within the limit of its capabilities, humanitarian operations and the delivery of assistance to the affected populations (see PSC/AHG/2.(CDLXXXIV) of 29 January 2015 and Assembly/AU/Dec.558(XXIV) of 30–31 January 2015).

The MNJTF has a strength of 12,299 personnel, with one senior police adviser to the MNJTF Commander and an AU mission support team (MST) coordinating the delivery of AU additional support to the force as well as advising the Commander on human rights and humanitarian coordination issues. The AU and its partners, in particular the European

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Union (EU), are providing additional financial and logistic support to the MNJTF in line with communiqué PSC/PR/2.(CDLXXXIX) of 3 March 2015 (PSC 489th meeting), in which the PSC requested the Commission to take all necessary steps in support of the full operationalisation of the MNJTF.

On 18 January 2021, the 973rd PSC meeting renewed the mandate of the MNJTF for 12 months from 1 February 2021 (see PSC/PR/COMM.(CMLXXIII)).

G5 Sahel Joint Force (FC–G5S)The Group of Five Sahel States (G5 Sahel) was established in December 2014 to address the impact of terrorism and transnational organised crime. It comprises Burkina Faso, Chad, Mali, Mauritania and Niger. In 2017, the PSC endorsed the draft strategic Concept of Operations (CONOPs) and authorised the deployment of the Joint Force, or Force Conjointe, of the G5 Sahel (FC–G5S) (PSC/PR/COMM(DCLXXIX) of 13 April 2017). UN Security Council resolution 2359 of 21 June 2017 welcomed the deployment of the FC–G5S throughout the territories of its contributing countries, with up to 5000 military, police and civilian personnel.

The PSC has authorised renewal of the mandate of the G5 Sahel Joint Force several times, including for 12 months from 13 July 2021 (PSC/PR/COMM.1006(2021)). See also Assembly/AU/Dec.792(XXXIII) of February 2020.

Previous Operations

African Union Human Rights Observers and Military Experts Mission in BurundiThe deployment of human rights observers (HROs) and military experts in Burundi was authorised by the PSC in 2015 (see PSC/PR/COMM.2(DXV) of 13 June 2015 and PSC/PR/COMM.(DLI) of 17 October 2015). The PSC decided in 2021 to end the mandate of the Mission on 31 May 2021 (see PSC/PR/COMM.3(CMXCIII) of 27 April 2021).

African Union–United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID)UNAMID was a joint AU–UN peace support mission mounted in response to the continuing violence in Sudan’s Darfur region. It was jointly established by the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) and the UN Security Council (UNSC) in June 2007, and superseded the AU Mission in Sudan (PSC/PR/Comm(LXXIX) and UNSC resolution 1769 (2007)). UNAMID completed its mandate on 31 December 2020. A UN political mission was established to support the transition in Sudan (see https://unitams.unmissions.org).

Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA)The PSC authorised the establishment of the Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) in November 2011 (see PSC/PR/COMM.(CCCXXI); also see PSC/PR/COMM(DCCLXXII) of 18 May 2018 and PSC/COMM.(DCCXCV) of 20 September 2018).

African Union-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) MISCA was an AU-mandated mission established by PSC Communiqué PSC/PR/COMM.2(CCCLXXXV) of 19 July 2013 and endorsed and authorised by UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2127 (of 5 December 2013). It was the successor to the earlier Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African Republic (MICOPAX). MISCA transferred its authority to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) on 15 September 2014 (UNSC resolution 2149 of 10 April 2014).

90 African Union-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA)AFISMA was a joint AU operation with the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS), mandated by PSC Communiqué PSC/AHG/COMM/2.(CCCLIII) of 25 January 2013. AFISMA was also mandated by UN Security Council (UNSC) resolution 2085 (of 20 December 2012). AFISMA transferred its authority to the UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) on 1 July 2013 (UNSC resolution 2100 of April 2013).

African Union Electoral and Security Assistance Mission to the Comoros (MAES)MAES was an AU-mandated mission established by PSC Communiqué PSC/MIN/Comm.1(LXXVII) of 9 May 2007, which authorised the deployment of the Mission following elections of the Island Governors in Comoros. The Mission’s mandate was revised in October 2007 and extended for six months.

African Union Mission for Support to the Elections in Comoros (AMISEC)AMISEC was an AU-mandated mission established by PSC Communiqué PSC/PR/Comm.1(XLVII) of 21 March 2006, at the request of the President of Comoros, to provide a secure environment for the 2006 elections. AMISEC was mandated until 9 June 2006. In addition, Democracy in Comoros was a short AU-authorised mission in 2008.

African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS)PSC/AHG/Comm.(X) of 25 May 2004 authorised the deployment of an AU-mandated mission to monitor the 2004 Humanitarian Ceasefire Agreement between parties to the conflict in Sudan. PSC/PR/Comm(XVII) of 20 October 2004 transformed AMIS into a full peacekeeping mission (AMIS II). The Mission was merged with the UN Mission in Sudan (UNMIS) in December 2007 to become the joint AU–UN Mission in Darfur (UNAMID).

African Union Mission in Burundi (AMIB)AMIB was mandated in 2003 by the OAU Central Organ of the Mechanism for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution, which operated pending the creation of the PSC (see Central Organ/MEC/AMB/Comm.(XCI) of 2 April 2003). From June 2004, AMIB was succeeded by UN missions.

Other Bodies Related to the PSC

African Union Police Strategic Support Group (PSSG) The Police Strategic Support Group (PSSG) was launched in June 2013, under the auspices of the Peace Support Operations Division (PSOD) of the AUC Peace and Security Department (PSD) (from 2021, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) under the new AUC structure), to provide strategic and technical advice and support to the Head of PSOD on police matters in the context of AU-led peace support operations. The PSSG consists of technical experts drawn from AU Member States. It was endorsed by the eighth Ordinary Session of the Specialised Technical Committee on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS), held on 15 May 2015 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe.

The PSSG was established as a specialised police advisory body to the AU in all matters relating to the police and policing in AU-mandated peace support operations and special operations. The PSSG has helped in developing police strategic and guidance instruments, including the policy for police in international peacekeeping, which was endorsed by the STCDSS.

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African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUCPCRD)The AU Assembly decided in July 2018 that Egypt would host the African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUCPCRD), and in February 2019 welcomed a proposal to revitalise and operationalise the Centre (Assembly/AU/Dec.710(XXXI) and Assembly/AU/Dec.729(XXXII)). The purpose of the Centre is to consolidate the implementation of post-conflict reconstruction and development programmes in countries emerging from conflict. In February 2020, the Assembly adopted the AUCPCRD staffing structure (see Assembly/AU/Dec.750(XXXIII) and EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI)). A start-up team is working in the AU Commission in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, to ensure the full operationalisation of the Centre.

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AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION

94 AFRICAN UNION COMMISSION (AUC)PO Box 3243Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area) W21K19Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 7844Email: DIC@africa-union.orgWebsite: www.au.int

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AfricanUnionCommissionTwitter: @_AfricanUnionYouTube: www.youtube.com/AUCommission

The Commission is the African Union’s secretariat. Its functions, as set out in article 3 of the Commission Statutes, include:• Representing the AU and defending its interests under the guidance of, and as mandated

by, the Assembly and Executive Council• Initiating proposals to be submitted to the AU’s organs as well as implementing decisions

taken by them• Acting as the custodian of the AU Constitutive Act and all other OAU/AU legal instruments• Liaising closely with the AU organs to guide, support and monitor the AU’s performance to

ensure conformity and harmony with agreed policies, strategies, programmes and projects• Providing operational support for all AU organs• Assisting Member States in implementing the AU’s programmes• Drafting AU common positions and coordinating Member States’ actions in international

negotiations• Managing the AU budget and resources• Elaborating, promoting, coordinating and harmonising the AU’s programmes and policies

with those of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) • Ensuring gender mainstreaming in all AU programmes and activities • Taking action, as delegated by the Assembly and Executive Council.

EvolutionThe Commission was established under article 5 of the AU Constitutive Act (Organs of the AU). It replaced the OAU General Secretariat.

In October 2020, the Executive Council provisionally adopted amendments to the Statute of the Commission to align it with institutional reform, for consideration and final adoption by the Assembly (EX.CL/Dec.1099(XXXVII)). The Assembly adopted the aligned Statute of the Commission in February 2021 (Assembly/AU/Dec.806(XXXIV)).

StructureThe Commission is composed of the Chairperson, Deputy Chairperson and six Commissioners, plus staff. The Assembly elects the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson. The Executive Council elects the Commissioners, who are appointed by the Assembly. Commission members’ terms are for four years, renewable once.

In November 2018, as part of institutional reforms, the Assembly decided that from 2021 the number of Commissioners would reduce from eight to six. More recently, decisions have been taken on a new departmental structure for the Commission (see Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI) of November 2018 and EX.CL/Dec.1097(XXXVII) of October 2020, and Assembly/AU/Dec.805(XXXIV), Assembly/AU/Dec.798(XXXIV) and EX.CL/Dec.1107(XXXVIII) of February 2021).

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ChairpersonThe Chairperson of the Commission is the Chief Executive Officer, legal representative of the AU and the Commission’s Chief Accounting Officer (Commission Statutes, article 7). He or she is directly responsible to the Executive Council for the discharge of his or her duties. Article 8 of the Commission Statutes outlines the Chairperson’s functions, including: • Chairing all Commission meetings and deliberations • Undertaking measures aimed at promoting and popularising the AU’s objectives

and enhancing its performance • Submitting reports requested by the Assembly, Executive Council, Permanent

Representatives Committee (PRC), committees and any other organs• Preparing, with the PRC, the AU budget and strategic planning documents• Acting as a depository for all AU and OAU treaties and legal instruments• Facilitating the functioning, decision-making and reporting of all AU organ meetings,

and ensuring conformity and harmony with agreed AU policies, strategies, programmes and projects

• Consulting and coordinating with Member States’ governments, other institutions and the RECs on the AU’s activities, and carrying out the AU’s diplomatic representations

• Appointing and managing Commission staff • Assuming overall responsibility for the Commission’s administration and finances • Preparing the annual report on the AU and its organs’ activities.

The Chairperson of the Commission is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. Elections for the Chairperson of the Commission as well as the Deputy Chairperson and Commissioners were most recently held in February 2021 (Assembly/AU/Dec.799(XXXIV)) and EX.CL/Dec.1125(XXXVIII)).

Chairpersons

Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad ...........................................................................................................................................................................................2017–21, 2021–25Nkosazana Dlamini Zuma, South Africa1

........................................................................................................................................................................................2012–17 Jean Ping, Gabon .........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2008–12Alpha Oumar Konaré, Mali ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................................2003–08 Amara Essy, Côte d’Ivoire (interim)2 ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................2002–03

Deputy ChairpersonThe Deputy Chairperson assists the Chairperson in the execution of his or her functions for the smooth running of the Commission and is in charge of administration and finance. The Deputy acts as the Chairperson in his or her absence. The Deputy Chairperson is elected by the Assembly for a four-year term, renewable once. The Deputy must not be from the same region as the Chairperson of the Commission, and from 2021 must not be of the same gender.

Deputy Chairpersons3

Monique Nsanzabaganwa, Rwanda .........................................................................................................................................................................................................2021–25Thomas Kwesi Quartey, Ghana ..........................................................................................................................................................................................................................2017–21Erastus Mwencha, Kenya1

.......................................................................................................................................................................................................2008–12, 2012–17Patrick Kayumba Mazimhaka, Rwanda ..............................................................................................................................................................................................2003–08

Notes1 In July 2016 and January 2012, the AU Assembly extended existing Commission Members’ terms of office until its next

summits (Assembly/AU/Dec.610(XXVII) and Assembly/AU/Dec.414(XVIII) respectively).2 Amara Essy, Côte d’Ivoire, was the interim Chairperson 2002–03 during transition from the OAU to AU.3 There was no deputy chairperson during the OAU–AU transition years.

96 Commissioners The Commissioners support the Chairperson in running the Commission, and have the responsibility for implementing all decisions, policies and programmes relating to their portfolios.

Eight commissioners have traditionally been elected by the AU Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly for four-year terms, renewable once. In November 2018, the Assembly decided to reduce the number of commissioners to six from 2021 (Ext/Assembly/AU/Dec.1(XI)).

Commissioners (6)4

Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable EnvironmentJosefa Sacko, Angola5 (re-elected February 2021)

Economic Development, Trade, Industry and MiningAlbert Muchanga, Zambia6 (re-elected February 2021)

Education, Science, Technology and InnovationSarah Anyang Agbor, Cameroon7 (serves until elections are held later in 2021)

Infrastructure and EnergyAmani Abou-Zeid, Egypt8 (re-elected February 2021)

Political Affairs, Peace and SecurityBankole Adeoye, Nigeria (elected in February 2021)

Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social DevelopmentAmira Elfadil Mohammed, Sudan9 (serves until elections are held later in 2021)

Notes4 In February 2021, elections for the posts of Commissioner for Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development and

Commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation were postponed until the next Ordinary Session of the Executive Council, scheduled for later in 2021 (EX.CL/Dec.1125(XXXVIII)). In addition, the Assembly delegated its powers to appoint the Commissioners to the Executive Council (Assembly/AU/Dec.799(XXXIV)).

5 Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture 2017–21.6 Commissioner for Trade and Industry 2017–21.7 Commissioner for Human Resources, Science and Technology 2017–21.8 Commissioner for Infrastructure and Energy 2017–21.9 Commissioner for Social Affairs 2017–21.

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AUC Organisational Structure The Commission consists of the major organisational units, each headed by an official accountable to the Chairperson of the Commission.

The following list shows the AUC structure from March 2021. For more information about the pre-2021 structure of the AUC, see previous editions of this handbook (available online at https://au.int/handbook).

Cabinet of the ChairpersonThe Cabinet supports the Chairperson in the execution of his or her responsibilities. The Cabinet provides advisory services to the Chairperson, as well as managing meetings and other routine tasks and liaising with the Director-General on the work of the directorates and departments directly and indirectly under the Chairperson’s supervision. The operations of the Cabinet of the Chairperson are managed by the Chief of Staff.

Chief of StaffMohamed El-Hacen Ould Lebatt, Mauritania (appointed by the Chairperson in March 2021)

Office of the Director-General Director-General: vacant

The Director-General is accountable to the Chairperson and to the Commission as a whole for the performance of the management/implementation layers in delivering the AUC’s annual work programme. The Director-General reports to the Chairperson of the Commission, as Chief Executive Officer of the Commission. The Director-General, under delegated authority from the Deputy Chairperson, will be responsible for administrative and financial matters and will report on them to the Deputy Chairperson.

Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery (OSPD)Director: Mesfin Tessema, Ethiopia

The OSPD focuses on ensuring the successful planning and delivery of Agenda 2063 and other emerging continental priorities by providing the framework for linking planning and budgeting towards the delivery of concrete results and impact. OSPD monitors and evaluates programme outputs against action plans, and assesses the efficiency and effectiveness of programmes in realising organisational goals and objectives. OSPD focuses on three main functions: • Policy analysis and research services to support the overall strategic thinking and planning

processes of the AU Commission • Planning to coordinate the formulation of multi-year implementation plans for continental

(Agenda 2063) and global (Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)) development agendas, and proposing overall operational priorities for the Commission

• Monitoring and evaluation to design and implement procedures for assessing programme achievements and effectiveness.

Office of Internal Oversight (OIO)Director: Regina Maambo Muzamai, Zambia

The OIO ensures that the Financial Rules and Procedures of the African Union are sound and efficient, and implemented accordingly. It oversees the internal audit functions and carries out investigations and inspections. OIO has a three-fold mandate:

98 • Cover internal audit, special investigation, inspection, monitoring and evaluation of the adequacy and effectiveness of the internal control, financial management, accounting, administrative processes, data quality, computing and other operational activities of all the AU organs

• Provide independent and objective appraisal of the activities of all the AU organs in order to add value and improve their administrative and operational efficiency

• Help all the AU organs accomplish their strategic objectives by utilising a systematic and disciplined approach to evaluate and improve the risk management, internal control systems and administrative processes in accordance with relevant statutes, directives, guidelines, policies and governance standards.

Quality Assurance and Control DivisionHead: vacant

The Division reports to the Chairperson and has the primary responsibility for ensuring the efficient and effective achievement of objectives set for the Commission, through monitoring compliance with applicable rules and regulations. The Division ensures that all risks inherent in the Commission’s operations are consistently and continuously identified and that proper risk mitigation strategies are identified and implemented in accordance with the approved risk management policy. The Division also monitors the implementation of action plans geared towards remedying anomalies and control weaknesses, as identified and reported through assurance activities such as internal and external audits.

Ethics, Integrity and Standards Directorate (EISD)Director: vacant

The EISD was established in line with the institutional reforms of the AU to promote a culture of transparency and accountability. EISD promotes the maintenance of ethics and integrity and supports the administration of internal justice and disciplinary matters. In addition to the Ethics Division, the Directorate oversees key entities with a Union-wide function, the Ombudsman, the Secretariat to the Administrative Tribunal and the Secretariat to the Disciplinary Board. These entities each have an autonomous function and are required to operate with independence and impartiality.

Office of the Secretary to the Commission (OSC)Acting Secretary: Nouhou Thiam, Mauritania

The OSC serves as an institutional memory of the Commission and other AU organs. It is tasked with the preparation, coordination and conduct of Commission meetings and those of other AU bodies. The duties of the OSC are to: • Coordinate the preparation and holding of meetings of the Assembly of Heads of State

and Government and its sub-committees, Executive Council, Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) and its subcommittees, Specialised Technical Committees (STCs) and meetings of the Directors of the AUC

• Ensure that working documents for the meetings are available in all the working languages of the Union and circulated to Member States and other relevant addressees within the time limits

• Ensure that reports and decisions of meetings are correctly drafted and distributed to Member States and other relevant recipients within the time limits.

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Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC)Legal Counsel: Namira N Negm, Egypt

The OLC is tasked with a broad mandate spanning an array of legal advisory and representational activities. The mandate of the Legal Counsel is to: • Provide legal advisory and representational services• Serve as the depository for all legal instruments of the Union (the OLC is the custodian

of all AU Treaties)• Ensure legality in decision-making and compliance with the AU Constitutive Act and all

existing legal instruments and treaties of the Union• Provide legal opinions relating to the interpretation of all Protocols, Rules and Regulations

of the AU and other legal instruments• Assess the legal implications of the activities and decisions of all deliberative, advisory and

administrative bodies, and participate in the meetings of these bodies• Draft contracts, host agreements, cooperation agreements and Rules of Procedure of the

various organs, treaties and other legal instruments, as well as prepare election documents including materials for elections at the level of the Executive Council and the Assembly

• Represent the Commission and all organs of the AU in judicial proceedings, negotiations or other procedures for the conclusion of agreements or the settlement of disputes

• Follow up on issues concerning the implementation of Headquarters and Host Agreements• Ensure that the privileges and immunities of the Commission, its staff and representatives

accredited to it are assured, respected and protected as provided for in the Headquarters Agreements and the General Convention on Privileges and Immunities of the AU

• Follow up issues relating to international legal matters• Ensure that the legal interaction between the organs of the Union and Member States,

other organisations, individuals and other legal entities are regulated in such a manner that the interests of the AU are safeguarded

• Undertake investigations and prepare reports on special legal problems• Support the legal framework of Agenda 2063 to achieve its desired objectives within the

legal parameters set by the policy organs• Act as the focal department for the implementation of an African Integrated Maritime Strategy• Assist in creating new bodies• Provide legal services to manage the relationship with the various strategic partners of

the Union• Provide legal advice to Member States and staff upon request• Provide legal opinions or amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) briefs to the African Court

on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) upon request, and to the international criminal mechanisms such as the International Criminal Court (ICC) and the International Court of Justice (ICJ)

• Provide advisory opinions before the Administrative Tribunal and international courts such as the ICC and the ICJ

• Serve as the Secretariat for the STC on Justice and Legal Affairs• Attend and serve all ministerial committees and sub-committees, the STCs and the PRC

and its sub-committees• Serve as a member of the AU Appointment, Promotion and Recruitment Board (APROB),

Internal Procurement Committee (IPC), the Disciplinary Board and all investigation committees• Set up the management of the Trust Fund for victims of Hissène Habré crimes.

100 Office of ProtocolActing Director: Muchimba Stepples, Zambia

The Office provides services and advice on all protocol-related issues and applies standard rules and norms as per its guiding principles to regulate and facilitate the AU’s interactions with its stakeholders. The Office holds the responsibility of maintaining rules and procedures related to the implementation of international and regional treaties such as the Headquarters Agreements. The Office is the first point of contact for Member States, AU organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs), partners, international organisations and others.

Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation Directorate (PMRM)Acting Director: Jacques Mukwende, Rwanda

The Directorate manages and coordinates partnerships and resource mobilisation within the AUC and for the continent. Its functions are to:• Coordinate all project-oriented partnerships• Operationalise the Partnerships Management Information System (PMIS) for effective

management and linkage with all AU stakeholders• Ensure effective communication and information dissemination on all partnerships• Monitor, evaluate, follow up and report on partnership dynamics across the continent

and globally• Initiate, develop and manage policy for international cooperation and resource mobilisation• Operationalise the AU Resource Mobilisation Strategy, including policy guidelines and

institutional mechanisms on resource mobilisation• Facilitate regular dialogue between the AUC and partners at political, policy and

technical levels• Develop and maintain a database on development assistance to the AU and establish an

analysis and reporting system for donor-funded projects and programmes• Develop funding proposals for submission to donors/partners• Ensure regular engagement with the AU Partners’ Group• Build strong and strategic relationships with the private sector to create sustainable

partnerships aligned with the AUC strategy.

Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD)Acting Director: Lehau Victoria Maloka, South Africa

The WGYD’s mandate is to promote gender equity and youth development within and throughout the Union as well as in Member States, through evidence-based policy-making; the translation of policy agreements and instruments into measurable programmes and projects; facilitating the development and harmonisation of policy; facilitating coordination and initiation of gender-mainstreaming projects. WGYD’s functions include:• Setting the continental agenda on gender through coordinating policy definition• Initiating, developing and promoting gender policy development within Member States• Harmonising gender policies within the Union and Member States• Promoting women’s health, education and other cross-cutting projects• Advocating for and promoting gender equality• Initiating and facilitating gender-mainstreaming strategies within the Union as well as in

Member States• Facilitating and monitoring empowerment programmes within the Regional Economic

Communities (RECs) and at the regional level• Initiating, developing and promoting youth policy development within Member States• Advocating for and promoting youth empowerment initiatives• Coordinating delivery of the One Million by 2021 youth initiative and internal AU youth quotas.

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Information and Communication Directorate (ICD)Director: Leslie Richer, Kenya

The ICD oversees the communication activities of the AU and is the custodian of the AU brand, working to ensure that the mandate and programmes of the AU and its organs and institutions are known to all its stakeholders. ICD oversees the design and implementation of communication policies and procedures as well as the development of visual brand identities for the AU. The Directorate also manages:• Content development, public relations, and advocacy • Media engagement • The AU’s online presence (websites and social media platforms)• Office of the Spokesperson • The knowledge management function of the organisation, the Common Knowledge

repository and the AU Archives• AU Library • The AU TV and Radio studio• Tours and site visits to the AU Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Peace Fund Secretariat (PFS)Director: vacant

The PFS reports to the Chairperson of the Commission, who is also the Chair of the Executive Management Committee for the AU Peace Fund. The role of the PFS is to ensure sound management and administration of the AU Peace Fund. The Secretariat carries out the following functions: • Managing the day-to-day operations of the Fund• Preparing the Fund’s budget, performance plans and reports• Monitoring the Fund Manager’s performance• Monitoring spending undertaken by AU organs and departments that is derived from the

Peace Fund• Providing technical and administrative support to the Board of Trustees, Executive

Management Committee and the Independent Evaluation Group• Mobilising resources to meet the Fund’s capital requirements.

Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) Liaison UnitAdviser: John Mugabo, Rwanda

The CISSA Liaison Unit is a specialised unit that works on cross-cutting issues of intelligence and security. Its mandate is to:• Serve as the link between CISSA and the AU Commission by preparing analyses and

reports on intelligence• Prepare Early Warning Reports for the Chairperson of the AU Commission• Facilitate working contacts and interactions between CISSA and departments of the

AUC, especially the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) and the Department of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Affairs (HHS) in the areas of peace and security, and crime prevention

• Monitor, analyse and provide intelligence assessments and overviews on developments that impact the African continent (such as public health emergencies), and overviews on social and economic events, pressing political developments, proliferation of nuclear weapons, toxic waste dumping, climate change and other environmental issues and crimes that may affect the continent

102 • Maintain relations with partners such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL), African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL), United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), relevant international agencies and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) on intelligence and security matters.

African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) UnitPrincipal Programme Officer: Aïssatou Hayatou, Cameroon

The Unit was established in the Office of the Chairperson to serve as the interface between the AUC and the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD). It is mandated to ensure the effective coordination, collaboration and synergy between the AUC, AUDA-NEPAD and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) by supporting the Chairperson of the Commission in the execution of his or her supervisory role. The Unit’s primary focus is on:• Coordinating the process of NEPAD integration into African structures and processes• Monitoring the implementation of AU Assembly decisions on AUDA-NEPAD programmes• Advising on any matters related to AUDA-NEPAD.

Additionally, the Unit provides secretariat support to the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) Sub-Committee on NEPAD.

For more information about AUDA-NEPAD, see the separate section later in this chapter.

AU Reform Implementation UnitHead of Unit: Pierre Moukoko Mbonjou, Cameroon

This Unit is a temporary one with a limited mandate. The Unit is mandated to oversee the transition of the AU Commission into the new organisational structure in line with the institutional reforms of the African Union.

Cabinet of the Deputy ChairpersonThe Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson is mandated to support the Deputy Chairperson to execute his or her role in the effective running of the Commission, particularly on administrative and financial issues. The Cabinet provides further support in the implementation of the Deputy’s activities as delegated by the Chairperson. The Cabinet liaises with the Director-General on the work of the directorates and departments of the AUC. The operations of the Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson are managed by the Deputy Chief of Staff.

Deputy Chief of StaffÉmile Rwagasana, Rwanda

Human Resources Management Directorate (HRMD) Acting Director: Hamza Sahl, Sudan

The mandate of the Directorate is to develop and implement sound human resources (HR) policies and procedures. The core functions of this Directorate include: • Developing and implementing administrative and recruitment policies, rules and procedures• Developing and implementing policies to improve talent and performance through

leadership and capacity building for AU staff• Ensuring implementation of a fair and efficient performance appraisal system.

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Finance DirectorateOfficer in charge: Azeb Gebremedhin, Eritrea

The Directorate of Finance is the central service related to programming, budgeting, finance and accounting. It administers and ensures compliance with the Financial Rules and Regulations, and has responsibility for budgetary and accounting policies and procedures of the Union. The Directorate also collects and manages statutory and other funds entrusted to the African Union, and ensures inter-departmental coordination in the programming and budgetary processes of AU Commission. In addition, it leads the AUC’s financial planning and implementation processes.

Operations Support Services Directorate (OSSD)Director: vacant

The Directorate manages supply chain and procurement activities, construction and maintenance of AU offices, property and inventory systems, and transport and fleet. It also oversees the AU mail, registry and other administration systems.

Management of Information Systems Division (MIS)Acting Director: Rekia Tidjani Mahamoudou, Niger

The MIS is responsible for supporting and serving the AU in the selection, deployment and utilisation of technology. The Division is also responsible for the management of related infrastructure such as the fibre optic network, VSAT (very-small-aperture terminal) satellite internet installations, and all hardware and software.

Directorate of Conference Management and Publications (DCMP)Acting Director: Annie Quincke, Cameroon

The mandate of the Directorate is to provide conference services including interpretation, translation and documentation, as well as reproduction, publication, storage, control and distribution of documents required for summits, meetings, workshops, seminars and other events. DCMP services all organs and institutions of the African Union, and is responsible for preparing the annual and monthly calendar of meetings.

Enterprises and Resource Planning (ERP) UnitHead of Unit: vacant

The ERP Unit is responsible for ensuring the implementation of business process management software that will support management and automation of functions related to finance, supply-chain management, human resources and other business needs of the AU.

Office for Safety and Security ServicesActing Head: Mahamat Zene Moussa Moussa, Chad

The mandate of the Office for Safety and Security Services is to provide strategic leadership, oversight and execution of security and safety services (SSS) in the AUC Headquarters, offices outside Headquarters, regional offices and field operations through the provision of overall policy standardisation and direction, operational guidance and technical support.

104 Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO)Acting Director and Head of Civil Society Division: Jalel Chelba, Tunisia

The Constitutive Act of the African Union is definitive in its intention to establish a ‘people-oriented’ and ‘people-driven’ Union, predicated on popular participation and partnership with all segments of civil society in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion among African people. The Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) was created as a vehicle and catalyst for achieving this objective. The mandate of the Directorate is to promote the participation of non-state actors on the continent and in the diaspora in the work of the Union. The Directorate also coordinates engagement with civil society and diaspora.

Medical and Health Services Directorate (MHSD)Acting Director: Naftal Kilenga, Tanzania

The Directorate is an outpatient polyclinic that provides curative, preventive, promotive and acute care/observation services to AU staff and registered dependants, AU consultants, African diplomats accredited to Ethiopia and the AU, and AU delegates. MHSD also administers the Medical Assistance Plan and/or medical insurance within the AU Commission and regional offices. It provides technical assistance in planning, running and maintaining health services for AU peacekeeping missions.

Financial Control UnitPrincipal Verification Officer: Maente Celine Ntsoereng, Lesotho

The Unit was created in line with the AU institutional reforms and is responsible for ensuring all payments made by the Finance Directorate are in line with the AU’s financial rules and regulations. It serves as a pre-audit function and quality assurance unit, and reports to the Deputy Chairperson to ensure independence of its functions.

F15 Secretariat and Contribution Unit (F15SC)Principal Officer: vacant

The core functions of the Secretariat include: facilitating, through the provision of technical and administrative services, the work of the Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance (F15) and that of the Joint Sitting of the F15 Experts and PRC Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters on matters relating to budget and Reserve Fund oversight; facilitating, through the provision of technical services, the work of the Joint Sitting of the F15 and Ministerial Committee on the Scale of Assessment and Contributions on matters relating to the scale of assessment, contributions and sanctions; and improving capacity to monitor implementation of the AU Golden Rules for financial management and accountability principles through regular monitoring and evaluation.

Secretariat to the Board of External Auditors (SBoEA)Executive Secretary: Dinberu Mulugeta Abebe, Ethiopia

The Secretariat supports the AU Board of External Auditors in the execution of its duties. (See details about the work of the AU Board of External Auditors later in this chapter.)

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Portfolio Departments headed by Commissioners

Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) Director Agriculture and Rural Development: Godfrey Bahiigwa, UgandaDirector Sustainable Environment and Blue Economy: vacant

The mandate of ARBE is to initiate, develop and promote continental policies, frameworks and programmes that will contribute to agricultural transformation, rural development, blue economy and sustainable environment in line with Agenda 2063. The main functions of the Department are to develop continental policies, facilitate their domestication at regional and national levels, and monitor and report progress in the implementation of those policies. The Department’s objectives are to promote: • Sustainable agriculture and food systems in order to attain food and nutrition security

and consumer safety• Diversification of the rural economy so as to increase the employment, incomes, living

space and quality of life of rural people• Sound environmental and natural resource management and resilience to natural disasters

and climate change • Sustainable management and utilisation of aquatic resources to enhance the contribution

of the blue economy to the development of the continent.

The Department has five regional technical offices: the AU Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC); AU–Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU–IBAR); Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (PANVAC); Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC); and Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD). (See the Specialised and Technical Agencies, Treaty Bodies and Other Institutions chapter for details.)

Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) Economic Development, Integration and Trade — Acting Director: Jean Denis Gabikini, Congo Republic Industry, Mining and Entrepreneurship — Acting Director: Hussein Hassan, Egypt

The mandate of ETIM is to:• Coordinate the development of continental policy• Lead strategic partnerships for continental programmes• Monitor, review and evaluate progress in the implementation of continental policies in

the areas of economic integration, monetary affairs, trade, industry, mining, oil and gas, private sector development, investment, productive transformation, economic and trade agreements, and sustainable development.

The Department is also responsible for supporting the implementation of continental frameworks such as the Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) and the Africa Mining Vision (AMV), which promote transparency, social responsibility and tax compliance in the extractive industries; supporting the AU in boosting intra-African trade; and supporting the operationalisation of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI)Director: Mahama Ouedraogo, Burkina Faso

The mandate of ESTI is to undertake the development and harmonisation of policies and programmes in education, science, technology, space and innovation with the aim of

106 promoting inclusive growth and sustainable development towards achieving the African Union’s vision and the aspirations of Agenda 2063. The core functions of the Department are to: • Spearhead the development of quality, relevant and harmonised education systems that

respond to the social and human development needs of Africa• Promote and build capabilities of the continent on space, science, technology and innovation• Coordinate and develop AU flagship projects and signature initiatives on the Pan African

University (PAU) and Pan African Virtual and e-University (PAVeU), and the Africa Outer Space Strategy.

The Department coordinates the activities of the following technical offices: Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (STRC); African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI); Pan African University (PAU); International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (CIEFFA); and the Pan African Institute for Education for Development (IPED)/African Observatory for Education.

Infrastructure and Energy (IE) Acting Director: Atef Mohamed Marzouk, Egypt

The Department coordinates the delivery of the continental mandates, as approved in Agenda 2063, related to infrastructure development in maritime and road transport, information communications technology (ICT), energy, ports and airports. Key objectives include: • Developing policy frameworks and programmes on transport, energy, ICT, postal services

and tourism in collaboration with the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and AU specialised institutions and agencies, and facilitating implementation of policy frameworks by the RECs and Member States

• Facilitating private sector engagement on infrastructure development• Monitoring progress on the implementation of policies and frameworks• Collaborating with the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) for the

implementation of programmes and projects• Ensuring that infrastructure and energy-related knowledge developed by the AUC is

properly created, stored and distributed to relevant beneficiaries.

Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) Conflict Management — Acting Director: Fiona Lortan, South AfricaGovernance and Conflict Prevention — Acting Director: Calixte Aristide Mbari, Central African Republic

The mandate of PAPS has been developed from the larger Pan-African vision of the AU as defined in the Agenda 2063 aspirations, specifically Aspiration 3, which envisions “an Africa of good governance, democracy, respect for human rights, justice and the rule of law”, and Aspiration 4, which envisions “a peaceful and secure Africa”. The mandate of this portfolio is to contribute to the efforts of Member States and the Regional Economic Communities and Regional Mechanisms (RECs/RMs) towards the prevention, resolution and management of conflict and disruptive crises. In line with the principles of the AU Constitutive Act, the Department promotes peace and stability, good governance, democracy and human rights as a foundation for inclusion, security and the development of the continent and its people. The core functions of the Department include:• Continuous monitoring of Africa’s political, peace and security trends• Timely assessment, analysis and reporting on political, peace and security trends through

early warning• Supporting conflict prevention through the development and dissemination of legal

and policy frameworks on governance, political, peace and security issues• Capacity building and training on relevant political, peace and security issues

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• Coordinating the development of Common African Positions on relevant political, peace and security issues, and the provision of technical support

• Ensuring complementarity and synergy in the implementation of the African Governance Architecture (AGA) and the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA)

• Supporting conflict management efforts including peace support operations, mediation and dialogue interventions

• Supporting post-conflict reconstruction, development policy and strategy development.

PAPS serves as the Secretariat for the Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council. It is also the Secretariat for the Ministerial Committee on African Candidatures within the International System, and hosts the African Governance Architecture (AGA) Secretariat. The AGA is a platform for dialogue among stakeholders, and is the political and institutional framework for the promotion, protection and sustenance of democracy, governance, human rights and humanitarian assistance on the continent. The Department oversees the African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACRST) and the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL). (See the Peace and Security Council chapter for details.)

Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS)Director: Mariama Cisse Mohamed, Niger

The Department spearheads, promotes and coordinates continental policies, programmes and initiatives in the areas of health systems, diseases, nutrition, humanitarian affairs, migration, labour and employment, social welfare, drug control, children’s rights and culture. The specific functions of HHS, in line with article 3 of the AU Constitutive Act, are to:• Accelerate the socio-economic integration of the continent• Promote sustainable development at the social and cultural levels• Promote cooperation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of

African peoples• Work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and

the promotion of good health on the continent.

The Department hosts the Secretariat of the African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC). (See the Judicial, Human Rights and Legal Organs and Bodies chapter for details about ACERWC.)

The Department also hosts and works with the following four specialised offices: the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN); Centre for Linguistic and Historical Studies by Oral Tradition (CELHTO); African Institute for Remittances (AIR); and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC). (See the Specialised and Technical Agencies, Treaty Bodies and Other Institutions chapter for details.)

108 African Union Foundation1258 Lever RoadHeadway HillMidrand, 1685South Africa

Email: info@aufoundation.africaWebsite: https://au.int/en/auf

Chairperson: Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chad (Chairperson of the AU Commission) Chief Operations Officer: Dumisani Mngadi, South Africa

The African Union Foundation was established by the AU to receive voluntary contributions from the private sector, individuals and philanthropists towards financing the Union and its programmes, and also to allow Africans to tap into domestic resources and begin to fund their own programmes and take full charge of their development as set out in Agenda 2063. The AU Foundation is tasked with developing a systematic way of engaging the private sector to ensure it becomes a partner of the AU and that this results in inclusive economic development and growth, the growth of African business, intra-African trade and shared prosperity.

The AU Assembly decided in May 2013 to establish the AU Foundation, following a proposal by the High-Level Panel on Alternative Sources of Financing the African Union (Assembly/AU/Dec.487(XXI)). The AU Foundation was launched on 30 January 2015 during the Assembly’s 24th Ordinary Session.

The goals of the AU Foundation are to:• Mobilise resources from the private sector, philanthropists, individuals, donors within Africa,

the diaspora and globally• Build partnerships with the private sector towards Africa’s common prosperity and development• Connect people, ideas, initiatives and resources for Africa’s development and Agenda 2063• Advocate for the African Union and support its programmes.

The AU Foundation will fund programmes and initiatives in pursuit of Agenda 2063, with specific emphasis on the following areas:• Skills and human resource development• Youth development and entrepreneurship• Women’s empowerment and gender equality• Promoting integration and the management of diversity• Advocacy and support for the African Union.

The AU Foundation is governed by a council, which is made up of African leaders from various sectors and regions of the continent, as well as representatives from the African diaspora. The Chairperson of the African Union Commission is the Chairperson of the AU Foundation.

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African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)Physical Address:AUDA-NEPAD 230 15th Road, RandjesparkMidrand 1686JohannesburgSouth Africa

Postal Address:Private Bag 218Halfway House, Midrand 1685JohannesburgSouth Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 256 3600Email: info@nepad.org Website: www.nepad.org

Note10 In 2013, the Assembly endorsed the continuation of the services of the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) for a further four-

year term. In February 2020, the Assembly endorsed the extension of his appointment until the appointment of a new CEO. In February 2021, the Assembly noted that the process for the recruitment was ongoing and decided to extend the term of Dr Ibrahim Assane Mayaki until the appointment of the new CEO (Assembly/AU/Dec.800(XXXIV)). It exceptionally delegated the Mid-Year Coordination Meeting to endorse provisionally the CEO of AUDA-NEPAD at its third Mid-Year Coordination Meeting, scheduled for October 2021, and to submit the same for final decision by the Assembly in February 2022 (in accordance with article 10 of AUDA-NEPAD Statute).

Facebook: www.facebook.com/nepad.pageTwitter: @NEPAD_AgencyInstagram: @Nepadagency

AUDA-NEPAD Chief Executive Officer: Ibrahim Assane Mayaki, Niger (appointment first endorsed by the AU Assembly in February 2009 (Assembly/AU/Dec.241(XII)))10

PurposeThe mandate of the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) is primarily to coordinate and execute priority regional and continental projects to promote regional integration towards the accelerated realisation of Agenda 2063 goals.

AUDA-NEPAD has nine core functions set to guide integrated implementation:• Facilitate the incubation of innovative programmes in various fields by using

technology, research and development, knowledge management, data analytics and information technology

• Provide technical and implementation support to regions and Member States in the development and execution of priority projects and programmes

• Assist Member States and regional bodies, including the Regional Economic Communities (RECs), to strengthen their capacity in key areas such as food systems, energy, water, infrastructure, institutional and human capital, environmental sustainability, digital economy and innovation

• Provide advisory support in the setting up and application of norms and standards in thematic priorities of the AU for coherence and to accelerate regional integration

• Provide technical backstopping to the AU in implementing policy recommendations at the continental, regional and national levels

• Monitor and assess Africa’s development trends and progress with the view to achieving key continental and global goals for technical reporting

• Undertake and apply research on policy development support for Member States• Coordinate, facilitate and promote strategic cooperation with Africa’s strategic partners

and all stakeholders for effective resource mobilisation• Coordinate between AU specialised agencies and AU organs in order to form synergies

for effective implementation of Agenda 2063.

See the AUDA-NEPAD website for information about programmes and results.

110 EvolutionThe New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) was Africa’s continental development vision signed up to by the AU (then OAU) Heads of State and Government Summit in July 2001 in Lusaka, Zambia. The NEPAD vision represented a pledge by African leaders, based on a common vision and shared conviction, with the goal to eradicate poverty and foster Africa’s sustainable economic growth and development through the promotion of regional and continental integration; halt the marginalisation of Africa in global processes and enhance its full and beneficial integration into the global economy; and accelerate the empowerment of socially disadvantaged groups, such as women and children.

The NEPAD Secretariat was set up in South Africa to champion implementation of the NEPAD vision. Through a decision of the 2010 AU Summit (Assembly/AU/Dec.283(XIV)), the NEPAD Secretariat was transformed into the NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency (NEPAD Agency). This included a change in the mandate, with the Agency formally flagged as the AU’s technical implementation support agency and integrated into the AU systems.

In July 2018, the Assembly endorsed the reform of the NEPAD Agency into the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) (Assembly/AU/Dec.691(XXXI)). The AUDA-NEPAD legal instruments were adopted at the July 2019 Executive Council Ordinary Session in Niamey, Niger (EX.CL/Dec.1063(XXXV)). The recent reform is an integral part of the overall AU reforms endorsed by the July 2016 AU Summit (see ‘Institutional Reform’ in the Introduction section of this book). One key purpose of the AU reform is to transform AU organs and institutions to enhance performance in the implementation of the AU development, under Agenda 2063. The change to AUDA-NEPAD comes with changes in organisational mandate, structure and delivery modalities, with the goal to drastically improve delivery on implementation of the continent’s development decisions enacted through the AU Heads of State and Government Summit.

StructureAUDA-NEPAD has four directorates: • Programme Innovation and Planning, which comprises the following divisions: Programme

Development (design and development of innovative programmes to be implemented); Data Analytics and Research (management of big data, statistics, accelerator labs and conduct of economic research); and Technical Cooperation and Advisory Services (development of Member States’ capacity, and provision of advisory services based on knowledge products developed internally).

• Programme Delivery and Coordination, which comprises the following divisions: Environmental Sustainability; Human Capital and Institution Development; Industrialisation; and Economic Integration.

• Knowledge Management and Programme Evaluation, which comprises the following divisions: Programme Evaluation (provision of independent and objective appraisals on the overall programme implementation, impact and financial health); Knowledge Capitalisation and Management (knowledge generation, publications, communities of practice and knowledge dissemination); Centre of Excellence Management and Coordination (development of best practices by management of a portfolio of regional centres of excellence). The Centre of Excellence Division encompasses five regionally located centres, each with a defined thematic focus: Science, Technology and Innovation; Human Capital and Institutions; Supply Chain and Logistics; Rural Resources and Food Systems; and Climate Resilience and Energy.

• Operations, which comprises the following divisions: Finance; Human Resources; Procurement; Information System Management; Enterprise Resource Planning; and Administration.

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With slight modifications, the NEPAD Agency governance structures have remained for AUDA-NEPAD. These include the:• AUDA-NEPAD Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC): a sub-

committee of the AU Assembly that provides political leadership and strategic guidance on Agenda 2063 priority issues and reports its recommendations to the full Assembly for endorsement (see the Assembly chapter for more details). In the reformed structures, the HSGOC now comprises 33 Member States.

• AUDA-NEPAD Steering Committee: the intermediary body to interface between the HSGOC and AUDA-NEPAD, which oversees the activities of AUDA-NEPAD. The Committee is composed of the personal representatives of the Heads of State and Government of the HSGOC. In addition, representatives from the eight AU-recognised Regional Economic Communities (RECs), the AUC, African Development Bank (AfDB), UN Development Programme (UNDP), UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSAA) and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) participate in AUDA-NEPAD Steering Committee meetings as observers.

AUDA-NEPAD is financed through AU statutory budgets, voluntary contributions from AU Member States and support from development partners and the private sector in conformity with the African Union financial rules and regulations.

Permanent Representational and Specialised OfficesThe following offices report to the Chief of Staff in the Bureau of the Chairperson (from 2021, the Cabinet of the Chairperson under the new AUC structure).

New York Office Head of Mission: Fatima Kyari Mohammed, Nigeria (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2018)

AU Permanent Observer to the United Nations3 Dag Hammarskjöld Plaza305 East 47th Street, 5th FloorNew York, NY 10017, USA

Tel: +1 212 319 5491 or +1 212 319 5493Fax: +1 212 319 7135 or +1 212 319 6509Email: africanunion@un.int

Geneva OfficeHead of Mission: to be appointed

AU Permanent Representative to the United Nations and World Trade Organization

127, Rue des Pâquis 36CH-1211 Geneva 21, Switzerland

Tel: +41 (0) 22 716 0640Fax: +41 (0) 22 731 6818 Email: au-geneva@africa-union.org

or mission-observer.au@africanunion.ch

Washington DC OfficeHead of Mission: Hilda Suka-Mafudze, Zimbabwe (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission

in October 2020)

African Union Mission1640 Wisconsin Avenue NW Washington, DC 20007, USATel: +1 202 342 1100

Fax: +1 202 342 1114Email: au-washington@africa-union.org

or MiriamM@africa-union.org

112 Permanent Mission to the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states – Brussels OfficeHead of Mission: Awad Sakine Ahmat, Chad (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission

in February 2018)

AU Permanent Representative to the European Union

Avenue Gustave Demey 72–741160 Audergem, Belgium

Tel: +32 (0) 2 346 9747 or +32 (0) 2 346 9748

Fax: +32 (0) 2 346 9728Email: au-brussels@africa-union.org

or africanunion@skynet.be

Permanent Delegation to the League of Arab States – Cairo OfficeHead of Mission: Abdelhamid Bouzaher, Algeria (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission

in February 2015)

AU Permanent Representative to the League of Arab States

Abd Allah Al Kateb From Viny SquareDokki, Cairo, Egypt

Tel: +20 (0) 2 3762 6154 or +20 (0) 2 3762 6153

Fax: +20 (0) 2 3762 6153Email: au-cairo@africa-union.org

African Union Southern Africa Region Office (SARO) – Malawi OfficeHead of Mission: David Claude Pierre, Seychelles (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission

in September 2020)

AU Regional Delegation to Southern Africa PO Box 30898 Malawi

Tel: +265 1 775 335Fax: +265 1 775 330 Email: au-saro@teltech.mw

African Union Permanent Mission to China – Beijing OfficeHead of Mission: Rahmat Allah Mohamed Osman, Sudan (appointed by the Chairperson of the

Commission in September 2018)

111/112, Unit 1 Tayuan Diplomatic Office Building14 Liangmahe South RoadBeijing, China 100600

Special Representative and Liaison OfficesThe following offices work with the AUC Peace and Security Department (from 2021, the Department of Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS) under the new AUC structure) as part of the African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) structure.

African Union Liaison Office in Burundi Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission and Head of Mission: Basile Ikouebe,

Congo Republic (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in September 2017)

Ndamana House Rohero IChaussee Prince Louis RwagasoreB.P. 6864 Bujumbura, Burundi

Tel: +257 222 13540 or +257 222 13541Fax: +257 222 13542Email: miob@usan–bu.net or miab@cbinf.com

or miab.burundi@yahoo.fr

African Union Liaison Office in Central African RepublicSpecial Representative of the Chairperson of the AUC and Head of Mission: Matias Bertino

Matondo, Angola (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2019)

B.P. 902 SICA II Bangui, Central African Republic

Tel: +236 21 615 495 or +236 21 615 496 or +236 21 709 684

Email: misacbangui@gmail.com

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African Union Liaison Office in Côte d’IvoireSpecial Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission: Josephine-Charlotte Mayuma Kala, DR Congo (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in April 2015)

Note11 In February 2020, the AU Assembly decided to upgrade the AU Liaison Office in Libya to the level of mission

(Assembly/AU/Dec.792(XXXIII)).

Deux Plateaux6ème TrancheCocody, Lot 2500B.P. 718 Abidjan 27, Côte d’Ivoire

Tel: +225 2252 7560Fax: +225 2252 7577Email: bureauliaison@aviso.ci

or bureauliaisonabj@yahoo.com

African Union Liaison Office in Guinea-BissauSpecial Representative of the Chairperson of the AUC: Ovidio Manuel Barbosa Pequeno,

São Tomé and Príncipe (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in May 2012)

Guinea-BissauEmail: ua-bissau@googlegroups.com

Tel: +245 548 2341Fax: +245 325 6471

African Union Liaison Office in Kinshasa (DR Congo)Special Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission and Head of Office: Abdou Abarry,

Niger (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2016)

B.P. 5296, 4660Avenue Coteaux, Commune de la GombeKinshasa, DR Congo

Tel: +243 (0) 813 088 480Fax: +243 (0) 880 7975 or +243 (0) 139 8923 Email: audrc2002@gmail.com

or abarryabdou@yahoo.fr

African Union Liaison Office in LiberiaSpecial Representative of the Chairperson of the Commission and Head of Office: Ibrahim Mbaba

Kamara, Sierra Leone (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in January 2017)

10th Street, Sinkor PO Box 2881Monrovia, Liberia

Tel: +231 7700 2713Email: auloliberia@yahoo.com

African Union Liaison Office in Libya11

High Representative for Libya: Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Tanzania (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in January 2016)

Special Representative of the Chairperson of the AUC and Head of Office: Wahida Ayari, Tunisia (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in October 2016)

Al Andalus 2 CityPO Box N 565 Tripoli, Libya

Tel: +218 21 477 0676 or +218 919 485 470 or +218 911 544 195

Fax: +218 21 477 0676

African Union/Southern African Development Community (SADC) Liaison Office in MadagascarHead of Office: Hawa Ahmed Youssouf, Djibouti (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission

in November 2013)

Regus, Bâtiment A1Explorer Business ParkAnkorondrano101 Antananarivo, Madagascar

Tel: +261 (0) 202 25 1212Email: ausadcmg@yahoo.com

114 African Union Mission for Mali and Sahel (MISAHEL) High Representative for Mali and Sahel: to be appointed12

Note12 The High Representative for Mali and Sahel 2012–20, Pierre Buyoya, a former President of Burundi, died in December

2020.

Hamdallaye360 StreetACI 2000Bamako, Mali

Tel: +223 7238 8488 or +223 7881 4740

African Union Liaison Office in N’Djamena, ChadHead of Office: Zaina Nyiramatama, Rwanda (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in 2015)

Avenue Mobutu MoursalImmeuble Cebevirha, 2nd FloorB.P. 5131N’Djamena, Chad

Tel: +235 2251 7794 or +235 2252 3402 or +235 6300 0505

Fax: +235 2251 4236Email: aundjamena@yahoo.com

or aulondjamena@ausitroom-psd.org

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM)Special Representative for Somalia and Head of the AU Mission in Somalia (AMISOM):

Francisco Caetano José Madeira, Mozambique (appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in October 2015)

Temporary Office:KUSCCO Center, 2nd FloorKilimanjaro RoadPO Box 20182–00200Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 (0) 207 21 6710Fax: +254 (0) 207 21 6775Email: amisomhom@gmail.com

African Union Liaison Office in South SudanHead of Office: Joram Mukama Biswaro, Tanzania (appointed by the Chairperson of the

Commission in October 2016)

Plot No 167Tongping (1st Class Residential Area)PO Box 341Juba, South Sudan

Tel: +211 811 820 603Fax: +211 811 820 603

African Union Liaison Office in SudanSpecial Representative for Sudan and Head of Office: Mohamed Belaich, Morocco

(appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2019)

Makkah Street, House No 384Block 21 RiyadhPO Box 8372Khartoum, Sudan

Tel: +249 (0) 183 248 425 or +249 (0) 183 248 426

Fax: +249 (0) 183 248 427 Email: aulosudan@gmail.com

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High Representatives, Special Envoys and Special Representatives of the Chairperson of the AU Commission High RepresentativesHigh Representative for Mali and Sahel: to be appointed13

High Representative for South Sudan: Alpha Oumar Konaré, Mali Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in June 2015

High Representative for the Peace Fund: Donald Kaberuka, Rwanda Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in January 2016

Chairperson of the AU High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan: Thabo Mbeki, South Africa Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in July 2008

Facilitator for the national dialogue in DR Congo: to be appointed14

High Representative for Silencing the Guns in Africa: Ramtane Lamamra, Algeria Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in October 2017

High Representative for Libya: Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, Tanzania Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in January 2016

High Representative to support Member States in the negotiation of a new agreement with the European Union post-2020: Carlos Lopes, Guinea-Bissau Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in July 2018

High Representative for Infrastructure Development in Africa: Raila Odinga, Kenya Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in October 2018

Special EnvoysSpecial Envoy for Women, Peace and Security: Bineta Diop, Senegal

Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in January 2014

Special Envoy for Western Sahara: Joaquim Alberto Chissano, Mozambique Appointed by the Peace and Security Council in June 2014

Special Envoy of the African Union for Youth: vacant

Special Envoy to lead mediation talks between Sudan and Ethiopia regarding border conflict: Mohamed El-Hacen Ould Lebatt, Mauritania Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in February 2021

Special Envoys of the African Union on COVID-19Appointed by the Chairperson of the African Union in April 2020

Notes 13 The High Representative for Mali and Sahel 2012–20, Pierre Buyoya, a former President of Burundi, died in

December 2020.14 The Facilitator for the national dialogue in DR Congo 2016–20, Edem Kodjo, a former Prime Minister of Togo

and a former Secretary-General of the OAU, died in April 2020.

Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Nigeria

Donald Kaberuka, Rwanda

Tidjane Thiam, Côte d’Ivoire

Trevor Manuel, South Africa

Abderrahmane Benkhalfa, Algeria

To be appointed, Central Africa

116 Special RepresentativesSpecial Representative for the Great Lakes Region: Basile Ikouebe, Congo Republic

Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in September 2017

AU–UN Joint Special Representative for Darfur: Martin Ihoeghian Uhomoibhi, Nigeria Appointment announced by the UN Secretary-General and the Chairperson of the Commission in October 2015

Special Representative for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation: Larry Gbevlo-Lartey, Ghana Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2016

Special Representative for Liberia: Ibrahim Mbaba Kamara, Sierra Leone Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in January 2017

AU Representative on the tripartite team for Humanitarian Assistance to South Kordofan and Blue Nile State: Teferra Shiawl-Kidanekal, Ethiopia Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in 2012

Special Representative for Sudan: Mohamed Belaich, Morocco Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2019

Special Representative for Central African Republic: Matias Bertino Matondo, Angola Appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission in March 2019

Other special representatives are listed in the previous section Special Representative and Liaison Offices.

Other Bodies

African Union Board of External Auditors (AU BoEA)Website: www.au.int/en/BoEA Executive Secretary: Dinberu Mulugeta Abebe, Ethiopia

The role of the Board is to carry out posterior external auditing of AU accounts, including trust, project and special funds, and ensure that the audit is in conformity with international standards.

The Board comprises heads of supreme audit institutions from AU Member States, who are appointed by the Executive Council. In line with Executive Council decisions 1027 of June 2018 and 916 of January 2016, the Board is composed of five members (one per region) appointed by the Executive Council for two-year terms, as well as the AU Member States in the first tier of the scale of assessment of the AU budget.

The AU provides the Board with a secretariat, headed by an executive secretary. The Secretariat provides administrative, technical and secretarial support to the Board and its Audit Operations Committee (AOC).

The Board usually meets twice a year, at the beginning of the year for planning and in May for adoption of the final report. The Board reports to the AU Executive Council through the Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC).

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Members

Appointed by the Executive Council for the 2020 and 2021 financial year auditsCentral Africa: Congo RepublicEastern Africa: TanzaniaNorthern Africa: LibyaSouthern Africa: NamibiaWestern Africa: Guinea

Scale of Assessment Tier 1 Member StatesAlgeriaAngolaEgyptMorocco NigeriaSouth Africa

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AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT

120 PAN-AFRICAN PARLIAMENT (PAP)Gallagher Convention Centre Private Bag X16Midrand 1685Gauteng ProvinceSouth Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 545 5000 Email: secretariat@panafricanparliament.orgWebsite: http://panafricanparliament.org

Acting President: Fortune Charumbira, Zimbabwe (from 1 March 2021 until the next Plenary Session)

PurposeThe Pan-African Parliament (PAP) is one of the nine organs proposed in the 1991 Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty). Its purpose, as set out in article 17 of the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act, is “to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and economic integration of the continent”. The Parliament is intended as a platform for people from all African states to be involved in discussions and decision-making on the problems and challenges facing the continent. The Parliament sits in Midrand, South Africa.

The PAP members are designated by the legislatures of their Member States, rather than being elected directly by the people, and, under the Protocol current as of February 2021, are all members of their domestic legislatures. The ultimate aim is for the Parliament to be an institution with full legislative powers, whose members are elected by universal suffrage. Until such time, the PAP has consultative, advisory and budgetary oversight powers within the AU.

The objectives and functions of the Parliament are set out in the 2001 Protocol to the Abuja Treaty relating to the Pan-African Parliament and in its Rules of Procedure (amended in 2011). Functions include:• Facilitating and overseeing implementation of AU policies, objectives and programmes• Promoting human rights and consolidating democratic institutions and culture, good

governance transparency and the rule of law by all AU organs, Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and Member States

• Participating in creating awareness among the peoples of Africa on the: AU’s objectives, policy aims and programmes; strengthening of continental solidarity, cooperation and development; promotion of peace, security and stability; and pursuit of a common economic recovery strategy

• Contributing to the harmonisation and coordination of Member States’ legislation• Promoting the coordination of the RECs’ policies, measures, programmes and activities• Preparing and adopting its budget and Rules of Procedure• Electing its bureau members• Making recommendations on the AU budget.

EvolutionThe PAP originated with the Abuja Treaty (1991), which called for the establishment of a parliament to ensure that the peoples of Africa are fully involved in the economic development and integration of the continent. The Sirte Declaration (1999) repeated the call for early establishment. The Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament was adopted on 2 March 2001 at the OAU Summit in Sirte, Libya, and entered into force on 14 December 2003. The Parliament’s first session was held in March 2004.

The AU Assembly adopted the Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan-African Parliament during its June 2014 Summit (Assembly/AU/Dec.529(XXIII)).

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The new Protocol will come into force 30 days after the deposit of instruments of ratification by a simple majority of AU Member States. As of February 2021, 21 Member States had signed the Protocol and 12 had deposited their instruments of ratification.

The 2014 Protocol includes that the Parliament shall be the legislative organ of the AU, with the AU Assembly determining the subjects/areas on which the Parliament may propose draft model laws and for the Parliament to make its own proposals on the subjects/areas on which it may submit or recommend draft model laws to the Assembly for its consideration and approval (article 8).

The 2014 Protocol also includes provisions for at least two of each Member State’s five members to be women (article 4(2)); that members shall be elected by their national parliament or other deliberative organ from outside its membership and that elections shall be conducted in the same month by all Member States as far as possible (article 5(1)); and that the procedure for election shall be determined by national parliaments or other deliberative bodies until a code is developed for election to PAP by direct universal suffrage (article 3).

Parliaments and Presidents since 2004

First Parliament: March 2004 to October 2009President: Gertrude Mongella, Tanzania

Second Parliament: October 2009 to May 2012President: Idriss Ndele Moussa, Chad

Third Parliament: May 2012 to May 2015President: Bethel Nnaemeka Amadi, Nigeria

Fourth Parliament: May 2015 to May 2018President: Roger Nkodo Dang, Cameroon

Fifth Parliament: May 2018 to May 2021President: Roger Nkodo Dang, CameroonActing President from 1 March 2021 until the next Plenary Session: Fortune Charumbira, Zimbabwe

AU Member States that have ratified the 2001 Protocol relating to the Pan-African Parliament (51)

Algeria

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cabo Verde

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Congo Republic

Côte d’Ivoire

Djibouti

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea-Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Rwanda

Sahrawi Republic

São Tomé and Príncipe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

South Africa

South Sudan

Sudan

Tanzania

Togo

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

122 Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan-African Parliament (2014)

AU Member States that have signed (21)

Note1 The number of Member States represented may vary over time, where states are under sanction.

Algeria

Benin

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Congo Republic

Djibouti

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Madagascar

Mali

Mauritania

Sahrawi Republic

São Tomé and Príncipe

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Sudan

Togo

Zimbabwe

AU Member States that have ratified (12)Benin

Cameroon

Chad

Equatorial Guinea

Gambia

Ghana

Madagascar

Mali

Sahrawi Republic

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Togo

StructureThe Parliament is composed of five members per Member State that has ratified the Protocol establishing it, including at least one woman per Member State and reflecting the diversity of political opinions in their own national parliament or deliberative organ.1 Under rule 7(2) of the PAP Rules of Procedure, a parliamentarian’s tenure of office shall begin when he or she has taken the oath of office or made a solemn declaration during a PAP plenary session. A parliamentarian’s term should correspond to his or her own national parliament term or any other deliberative organ that elected or designated the parliamentarian.

The full assembly of the Parliament is called the Plenary. It is the main decision-making body and passes resolutions. The Plenary consists of the Member State representatives and is chaired by the President of the Parliament.

The PAP organs are the Bureau and Permanent Committees (PAP Rules of Procedure, rule 3). The Bureau is composed of a president and four vice-presidents, representing the five AU regions, and is responsible for the management and administration of the Parliament and its organs (PAP Rules of Procedure, rule 17(a)). There are 10 Permanent Committees and one ad hoc one (Audit and Public Accounts), whose mandate and functions are set out in rules 22 to 27 of the PAP Rules of Procedure. These functions correspond to those of the AU Specialised Technical Committees. Rule 22(5) provides for each committee to have up to 30 members.

Under rule 83 of the PAP Rules of Procedure, each of the five geographic regions should form a regional caucus composed of its members. The Rules of Procedure also provide for other types of caucuses to be established to deal with issues of common interest as the PAP deems necessary. There are two such caucuses: Women and Youth. Each caucus has a bureau comprising a chairperson, deputy chairperson and rapporteur.

The Secretariat assists in the day-to-day running of the Parliament, including reporting meetings, organising elections and managing staff. The Secretariat consists of a clerk, two deputy clerks and support staff.

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Fifth Parliament Bureau: May 2018 to 2021

As of March 2021, there were four vacant positions in the Bureau of the PAP: the President, first Vice-President, second Vice-President and third Vice-President. The fourth Vice-President, Fortune Charumbira, assumed the Acting Presidency from 1 March 2021 until the next Plenary Session of the PAP, when a full Bureau was expected to be reconstituted. The next Plenary Session was expected to be held in May 2021.

The following list shows the original 2018–21 Bureau of the PAP.

President, Central Africa: Roger Nkodo Dang, Cameroon First Vice-President, Eastern Africa: Stephen Julius Masele, Tanzania Second Vice-President, Western Africa: Haidara Aichata Cissé, MaliThird Vice-President, Northern Africa: Bouras Djamel, AlgeriaFourth Vice-President, Southern Africa: Fortune Charumbira, Zimbabwe

Permanent Committees

Committee on Education, Culture, Tourism and Human Resources The Committee considers issues concerned with the development of human resources in Member States. It assists the Parliament with policy development and implementation of programmes on issues of access to education, promotion of culture and tourism, and human resource development.

Committee on Cooperation, International Relations and Conflict ResolutionThe Committee considers policy issues on international cooperation and international relations on behalf of the Parliament and AU. It also deals with conventions and protocols linking the Parliament with regional and international institutions. The Committee examines revisions of AU protocols and treaties and provides assistance to the Parliament in its conflict prevention and resolution efforts.

Committee on Gender, Family, Youth and People with DisabilitiesThe Committee considers issues relating to the promotion of gender equality and assists the Parliament to oversee the development of AU policies and activities relating to family, youth and people with disabilities.

Committee on Monetary and Financial AffairsThe Committee examines the Parliamentary budget draft estimates. It also examines the AU budget and makes recommendations. The Committee reports to the Parliament on any problems involved in the implementation of the annual AU and PAP budgets. It advises the Parliament on economic, monetary and investment policies.

Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration MattersThe Committee deals with matters relating to the development of policy for cross-border, regional and continental concerns within the areas of trade (primarily external trade), customs and immigration. It assists the Parliament to oversee relevant organs or institutions and AU policies relating to trade.

Committee on Health, Labour and Social AffairsThe Committee works to support the implementation of social development, labour and health policies and programmes throughout the AU, including through regional and international cooperation strategies.

124 Committee on Transport, Industry, Communications, Energy, Science and TechnologyThe Committee deals with the development of transport and communications infrastructure. It assists the Parliament to oversee the development and implementation of AU policies relating to transport, communication, energy, science and technology, and industry.

Committee on Rules, Privileges and DisciplineThe Committee assists the Parliament Bureau to interpret and apply the PAP Rules of Procedure, as well as matters relating to privileges and discipline. It considers requests for ‘waivers of immunity’ submitted under the Rules of Procedure and examines cases of indiscipline. The Committee also considers proposals for amending the Rules of Procedure.

Committee on Justice and Human RightsThe Committee assists the Parliament in its role of harmonising and coordinating Member States’ laws. It advocates for respect within the AU of the principles of freedom, civil liberties, justice, human and peoples’ rights, and fundamental rights.

Committee on Rural Economy, Agriculture, Natural Resources and EnvironmentThe Committee considers the development of common regional and continental policies in the agricultural sector. It provides assistance to the Parliament to oversee and promote the harmonisation of policies for rural and agricultural development as well as the AU’s natural resources and environmental policies.

Committee on Audit and Public Accounts (CAPA) The Committee considers internal and external audit reports on the PAP, and the Board of External Auditors’ reports on the AU, and recommends measures for effective implementation of the recommendations.

MeetingsUnder rule 28 of the PAP’s Rules of Procedure, the Parliament should meet at least twice in ordinary session within a one-year period. Parliamentary sessions can last for up to one month. Under rule 29, the PAP can meet in extraordinary session.

The Permanent Committees are scheduled to meet twice a year (March and August) for statutory meetings (Rules of Procedure, rule 28) and can meet more often during parliamentary sessions or for non-statutory meetings when the need arises. The caucuses are scheduled to meet in ordinary session twice a year during parliamentary sessions (Rules of Procedure, rule 28).

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND

CULTURAL COUNCIL

126 ECONOMIC, SOCIAL AND CULTURAL COUNCIL (ECOSOCC)ECOSOCC SecretariatPO Box 502957th FloorNew Government ComplexIndependence AvenueKamwala, LusakaZambia

Tel: +260 (0) 211 429 405Email: ecosocc@africa-union.orgWebsite: www.auecosocc.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/africanunion.

ecosocc/Twitter: @AU_ECOSOCC

Head of Secretariat: William Carew, Sierra LeoneActing Presiding Officer: Denise A O Kodhe, Kenya

PurposeECOSOCC was established under the provisions of articles 5 and 22 of the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act. Its Statutes, adopted by the AU Assembly in July 2004, define it as an advisory organ composed of different social and professional groups of AU Member States (Assembly/AU/ Dec.48(III)). The purpose of ECOSOCC is to provide a mechanism for African civil society organisations (CSOs) to actively contribute to the policies and programmes of the African Union. It is referred to as the parliament of civil society. ECOSOCC’s functions include:• Contributing, through advisory opinions, to the effective translation of the AU’s objectives,

principles and policies into concrete programmes, as well as evaluating those programmes• Undertaking studies and making recommendations from a civil society perspective• Contributing to the promotion and realisation of the AU’s vision and objectives• Contributing to the promotion of human rights, the rule of law, good governance,

democratic principles, gender equality and child rights• Promoting and supporting the efforts of institutions engaged in reviewing the future of

Africa and forging pan-African values, in order to enhance an African social model and way of life

• Fostering and consolidating partnerships between the AU and CSOs• Assuming functions referred to it by other AU organs.

EvolutionThe first interim ECOSOCC General Assembly was inaugurated in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in October 2005. The first Permanent General Assembly was inaugurated in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, in September 2008. Its mandate ended in September 2012. The AU conducted an intensive campaign to encourage African CSOs to join ECOSOCC, and the second Permanent General Assembly was inaugurated in Nairobi, Kenya, in December 2014. The second Ordinary Session of the second Permanent General Assembly was held in March 2017, in Cairo, Egypt.

The third Permanent General Assembly was inaugurated during its first Ordinary Session in December 2018, in Nairobi, Kenya. A meeting in Lusaka, Zambia, from 11 to 12 June 2019 followed to finalise the leadership and membership of the various sectoral clusters and also to provide in-depth orientation to the members.

The AU Assembly adopted ECOSOCC’s Rules of Procedure in January 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI)), and endorsed an offer from Zambia to host the ECOSOCC Secretariat (see Assembly/AU/Dec.591(XXVI) of January 2016, Assembly/AU/Dec.676(XXX) of January 2018, and Assembly/AU/Dec.642(XXIX) and EX.CL/Dec.965(XXXI) of July 2017). The dedicated Secretariat started operations in Lusaka, Zambia, in 2019. In addition, a study on

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the functioning of ECOSOCC is expected to lead to an overall package of amendments to its Statutes (see Assembly/AU/Dec.676(XXX) of January 2018, EX.CL/Dec.975(XXXI) of July 2017 and EX.CL/Dec.814(XXV) of June 2014).

Structure The ECOSOCC Statutes, articles 8–12, provide for the following structure (see www.auecosocc.org/statutes): • General Assembly: composed of all members, and ECOSOCC’s highest

decision- and policy-making body. • Bureau: composed of the Presiding Officer and four deputies elected for two-year

terms by the General Assembly on the basis of equitable geographical distribution and rotation, including one member representing the diaspora.

• Standing Committee: composed of 18 members – the Bureau, Chairpersons of the 10 Sectoral Cluster Committees and two AU Commission (AUC) representatives, elected by the General Assembly for two-year terms.

• Ten Sectoral Cluster Committees: operational thematic mechanisms that mirror AUC technical departments.

• Credentials Committee: composed of one CSO representative from each of the five regions and one from the African diaspora, one nominated representative for special interest groups and two AUC representatives, and established by the General Assembly.

In addition, the second General Assembly highlighted the need for national chapters as a framework of accountability for elected members and for disseminating information and mobilising support for AU policies and programmes. Interim chapters have been established in some Member States.

MembersThe ECOSOCC Statutes, article 4, provide for the following membership:• Two CSOs from each AU Member State1

• Ten CSOs operating at regional level and eight at continental level• Twenty CSOs from the African diaspora, as defined by the Executive Council and covering

the continents of the world• Six CSOs, in ex officio capacity, nominated by the AUC based on special considerations,

in consultation with Member States.

Article 4 also provides for Member State, regional, continental and diaspora representatives to be elected on the basis of 50 percent gender equality and 50 percent aged between 18 and 35. Members are elected for four-year terms and may be re-elected once.

CSO members include but are not limited to social groups, professional groups, non-governmental organisations (NGOs), community-based organisations (CBOs), voluntary organisations, cultural organisations, and social and professional organisations in the African diaspora. For more details, see www.auecosocc.org/statutes.

Note1 Under the ECOSOCC Statutes, the total number of members is 150. However, the Statutes were adopted before South

Sudan and Morocco became AU members, and, in practice, the total number will be 154. Amendments to the Statutes are proposed.

128 MeetingsThe General Assembly convenes its ordinary session once every two years. It may also convene extraordinary sessions. The quorum for General Assembly meetings or of any of its committees is a simple majority (article 15). Each member has one vote. Decision-making is by consensus or, where consensus cannot be reached, by a two-thirds majority of those present and voting (article 16). Questions of procedure require a simple majority. The frequency of committee meetings is yet to be provided in the Rules of Procedure.

Bureau: December 2018 to December 2020

Acting Presiding OfficerDenise A O Kodhe, Kenya, Eastern Africa region (since December 2019) (Institute for Democracy

& Leadership in Africa)

DeputiesDjibrine Amalkher, Chad, Central Africa region (ONG NIRVANA pour la promotion de la femme et de

la jeunesse africaines/NGO NIRVANA for women and youth engagement)Khalid Boudali, Morocco, Northern Africa region (Clé de Paix pour le Développement et la

Solidarité)Patson Malisa, South Africa, Southern African region (Organisation of African Youth)Francis Komi Akpa, Togo, Western Africa region (Partage et Action en Synergie pour le

Développement (PASYD)/Sharing and Action in Synergy for Development (SASYD))

Previous Presiding Officers

Third Permanent Assembly, First Ordinary Session 2018–19Abozer Elmana Elligai, Sudan, Eastern Africa region (Maarij Foundation for Peace and Development)

Second Permanent Assembly, Second Ordinary Session 2017–18Richard Ssewakiryanga, Uganda, Eastern Africa region (Uganda National NGO Forum)

Second Permanent Assembly, First Ordinary Session 2012–14 and 2014–16Joseph Chilengi, Zambia, Southern Africa region (Africa Internally Displaced Persons (IDP) Voice)

First Permanent Assembly, 2008–10 and 2010–12Akere Muna, Cameroon,2 former member of the AU High-level Panel on the Audit of the AU

and former Chair of the Pan African Union of Lawyers

First and Interim Assembly, 2005–08Wangari Maathai,3 Kenya, Nobel Peace Prize laureate in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable

development, democracy and peace

Notes2 Until December 2014, when the second Assembly was inaugurated, Akere Muna led the process of encouraging

civil society to participate in ECOSOCC.3 Wangari Maathai died in 2011.

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

JUDICIAL, HUMAN RIGHTS

AND LEGAL ORGANS AND BODIES

130 JUDICIAL, HUMAN RIGHTS AND LEGAL ORGANS AND BODIES

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR)31 Bijilo Annex Layout, Kombo North DistrictWestern Region PO Box 673 BanjulGambia

Tel: +220 441 0505 or +220 441 0506Fax: +220 441 0504Email: au-banjul@africa-union.orgWebsite: www.achpr.org

PurposeThe African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) was inaugurated in 1987 to oversee and interpret the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (also known as the Banjul Charter). The Charter is a regional human rights instrument designed to champion the promotion and protection of human and peoples’ rights in Africa.

Under the Charter, the ACHPR is charged with three major functions, the:• Promotion of human and peoples’ rights (article 45(1))• Protection of human and peoples’ rights (article 45(2))• Interpretation of the Charter (article 45(3)).

The Charter provides for a ‘communication procedure’, under which states (under articles 48–49) and organisations and individuals (under article 55) may take a complaint to the ACHPR alleging that a State Party to the Charter has violated one or more of the rights contained in the Charter. Following consideration of complaints, the ACHPR can make recommendations to the State Party concerned on measures to be taken to redress the violations.

The ACHPR may also use its ‘good offices’ to secure a settlement at any stage of the proceedings, as stipulated in rule 112 of the Rules of Procedure (2020). In emergency situations, where the life of a victim is in imminent danger, the ACHPR can invoke provisional measures under rule 100, requesting the state to delay any action pending its final decision on the matter in order to prevent irreparable harm to the victim or victims of the alleged violation as urgently as the situation demands.

Article 62 of the Charter requires each State Party to submit a report every two years on the legislative or other measures taken with a view to giving effect to the rights and freedoms guaranteed by the Charter. The ACHPR then issues concluding observations, which are recommendatory in nature. The ACHPR also submits a report of its activities to all AU Assembly ordinary sessions. These reports are considered by the Executive Council on behalf of the Assembly. The ACHPR may publish information about its protective activities only after the Executive Council and Assembly have adopted the report. In February 2021, the combined 48th and 49th Activity Report was authorised for publication by the Executive Council (EX.CL/Dec.1113(XXXVIII)).

Communication decisions, State Party reports and activity reports are available on the website, www.achpr.org.

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EvolutionIn July 1979, the OAU Assembly adopted a resolution calling on its Secretary-General to form a committee of experts to draft an African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights providing, among other things, for mechanisms to promote and protect the rights embodied in the Charter. The group’s draft was unanimously adopted at a 1981 meeting of the OAU Heads of State and Government in Nairobi, Kenya, and the Charter came into force on 21 October 1986. This date is now celebrated as African Human Rights Day. The full Charter text is available on the ACHPR website under ‘Resources’.

The Charter provided for a Human Rights Commission to be established within the OAU. The ACHPR was officially inaugurated on 2 November 1987 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, after its members were elected by the OAU Assembly in July of the same year. The ACHPR’s Headquarters moved to Banjul, Gambia, in 1989.

StructureThe ACHPR consists of 11 members elected from experts nominated by State Parties to the Charter. Equitable geographical and gender representation is considered. Members have traditionally been elected by the Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly. In February 2020, the Assembly decided to delegate its authority to the Executive Council to appoint members (Assembly/AU/Dec.760(XXXIII)). Terms are for six years, and members are eligible for re-election. The Commissioners serve in their personal capacities. In April 2005, the AU issued nomination guidelines excluding senior civil servants and diplomatic representatives.

The ACHPR elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson as the Bureau. Their terms are for two years, renewable once. The Bureau coordinates the ACHPR’s activities and supervises and assesses the Secretariat’s work. The Bureau is also empowered to take decisions between sessions on matters of emergency. The Secretariat provides administrative, technical and logistical support to the ACHPR. Staff are appointed by the Chairperson of the AUC.

MeetingsThe ACHPR holds two ordinary sessions a year, usually in March/April and in October/November. Extraordinary sessions may also be held. The ordinary sessions include both a public and private session, with the public session open to the general public. The extraordinary sessions are held in private. The ACHPR invites states, specialised institutions, national human rights institutions (NHRIs), non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and individuals to attend its sessions. As of January 2021, the ACHPR had granted affiliate status to about 30 NHRIs1 and observer status to 528 NGOs.2 Details are on the ACHPR website under ‘Network’. Ordinary session agendas are drawn up by the ACHPR’s Secretariat in consultation with the Bureau. More detail about ordinary and extraordinary session agendas is on the ACHPR website under ‘Sessions’.

Notes1 In May 2017, the ACHPR recognised that states were establishing specialised human rights institutions, such as gender

commissions, and adopted new criteria for granting affiliate status to national human rights and other specialised human rights institutions. The new criteria entered into force immediately. Details are on the ACHPR website under the ‘Sessions’ tab, ‘60th Ordinary Session’.

2 Final Communique of the 67th Ordinary Session, held by videoconference from 13 November to 3 December 2020.

132 Commissioners

Solomon Ayele Dersso, Ethiopia (elected in 2015), ChairpersonRémy Ngoy Lumbu, DR Congo (elected in 2017), Vice-ChairpersonZainabo Sylvie Kayitesi, Rwanda (elected in 2007, re-elected in 2015)Maya Sahli-Fadel, Algeria (elected in 2011, re-elected in 2017)Jamesina Essie L King, Sierra Leone (elected in 2015)Hatem Essaiem, Tunisia (elected in 2017)Maria Teresa Manuela, Angola (elected in 2017)Marie Louise Abomo, Cameroon (elected in February 2020)Mudford Zachariah Mwandenga, Zambia (elected in February 2020)Ndiamé Gaye, Senegal (elected in February 2020)Alexia Amesbury (floating seat), Seychelles (elected in February 2020)

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR)Dodoma RoadPO Box 6274ArushaTanzania

Tel: +255 (0) 27 2970 430 Fax: +255 (0) 732 979 503 Email: registrar@african-court.org

or info@african-court.org

Website: http://en.african-court.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/afchpr/YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/africancourt

Registrar: Robert Eno, Cameroon (appointed in January 2012)Deputy Registrar: Nouhou Diallo, Burkina Faso (appointed in June 2014)

PurposeThe African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) has jurisdiction over all cases and disputes submitted to it concerning the interpretation and application of:• The African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which is the main human rights

instrument in Africa• The Protocol that established the Court• Any other relevant human rights instrument ratified by the State Party concerned.

The Court complements and reinforces the functions of the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (see article 2 of the Protocol establishing the Court and part 4 of the Rules of Procedure (2010) of the Commission). Unlike the Commission, which can only make recommendatory decisions, the Court’s decisions are binding and can include orders for compensation or reparation.

The Court has contentious and advisory jurisdictions. The contentious jurisdiction, where the Court passes a binding judgment, extends to all cases and disputes submitted to the Court concerning the interpretation and application of the Charter, the Protocol and any other relevant human rights instruments ratified by the State Parties concerned. The advisory jurisdiction is to render opinions on any legal matter relating to the Charter or any other human rights instruments.

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Under article 5 of the 1998 Protocol establishing the Court, the Commission, State Parties to the Protocol and African inter-governmental organisations are entitled to submit cases directly to the Court. Non-governmental organisations (NGOs) with observer status before the Commission and individuals can bring cases directly to the Court only against State Parties that have made a declaration accepting the jurisdiction of the Court in accordance with article 34(6). As of February 2021, 31 states had ratified the Protocol and six had deposited the declaration required under article 34(6): Burkina Faso, Gambia, Ghana, Malawi, Mali and Tunisia (see https://au.int/treaties for the full list).

In January 2016, the AU Assembly, as part of a decision on streamlining AU working methods, decided to provide for individuals to, in some circumstances, directly petition the Court on the implementation or otherwise of AU policy organ decisions (Assembly/AU/Dec.597(XXVI)).3

EvolutionThe Court was established by virtue of article 1 of the Protocol to the Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was adopted in June 1998 by OAU members in Ouagadougou, Burkina Faso. The Protocol came into force on 25 January 2004, 30 days after it had been ratified by 15 Member States.

The first judges were elected in January 2006 in Khartoum, Sudan, and were sworn in before the AU Assembly on 2 July 2006 in Banjul, Gambia. The Court officially started operations in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in November 2006. In August 2007, it moved to Arusha, Tanzania.

The Court initially dealt mainly with operational and administrative issues. Interim Rules of Procedure were adopted in June 2008 and Final Rules of Court in 2010. The first application was received in 2008, first judgment delivered in 2009 and first public hearing held in March 2012. Details are on the website of the Court, http://en.african-court.org.

StructureThe Court consists of 11 judges elected from amongst people of high moral character and recognised practical, judicial or academic competence and experience in the field of human and peoples’ rights. Members have traditionally been elected by the Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly. In February 2020, the Assembly decided to delegate its authority to the Executive Council to appoint members (Assembly/AU/Dec.760(XXXIII)).

Members are nominated by State Parties to the Protocol and elected in their personal capacities. Equitable geographical, legal tradition and gender representation is considered. They are elected by secret ballot for six-year terms, renewable once (with the exception of some of those elected at the first election). No two judges may be of the same nationality. The judges elect a president and vice-president who serve two-year terms, renewable once.

The composition of the Court and election of judges are governed by articles 11–15 of the Protocol establishing the Court. The President of the Court works on a full-time basis while the other 10 judges work part time. A registrar assists the President with managerial and administrative work.

The Court usually sits four times a year in four-week ordinary sessions. Extraordinary sessions may also be held. A calendar is available on the website.

Note3 Assembly/AU/Dec.597(XXVI) refers to article 36 of the Protocol. In practice, this would be article 34(6).

134 President

Imani Daud Aboud, Tanzania (elected President in May 2021 for a two-year term; first elected as a Judge of the Court in July 2018 for a two-year term; re-elected in February 2021 for a six-year term)

Vice-President

Blaise Tchikaya, Congo Republic (elected Vice-President in May 2021 for a two-year term; first elected as a Judge of the Court in July 2018 for a six-year term)

Judges4

In order of precedence:Ben Kioko, Kenya (elected in July 2012 for a six-year term; re-elected in July 2018 for a six-year term)Rafaâ Ben Achour, Tunisia (elected in June 2014 for a six-year term; re-elected in February 2021

for a six-year term)Ntyam Ondo Mengue, Cameroon (elected in July 2016 for a six-year term)Marie Thérèse Mukamulisa, Rwanda (elected in July 2016 for a six-year term)Tujilane Rose Chizumila, Malawi (elected in January 2017 for a six-year term)Bensaoula Chafika, Algeria (elected in January 2017 for a six-year term)Stella Isibhakhomen Anukam, Nigeria (elected in July 2018 for a six-year term)Dumisa Buhle Ntsebeza, South Africa (elected in February 2021 for a six-year term)Modibo Sacko, Mali (elected in February 2021 for a six-year term)

African Court of Justice/African Court of Justice and Human RightsThe AU Constitutive Act provided for an African Court of Justice to be established as one of the AU’s principal organs. The Protocol of the Court was adopted in July 2003 and entered into force in February 2009, 30 days after 15 Member States had ratified it. As of January 2021, 45 Member States had signed the 2003 Protocol and 19 had ratified it (see https://au.int/en/treaties).

However, the Court did not become operational. The AU Assembly decided at its July 2008 Summit to merge the African Court of Justice with the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (see previous entry) into an African Court of Justice and Human Rights. The Assembly adopted the 2008 Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights to merge the courts (Assembly/AU/Dec.196(XI)).

The 2008 Protocol replaced the 1998 Protocol establishing the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights and the 2003 Protocol establishing the African Court of Justice. However, the 1998 Protocol remains provisionally in force to enable the African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights, which was operational prior to the adoption of the 2008 Protocol, to transfer its prerogatives, assets, rights and obligations to the African Court of Justice and Human Rights once that court becomes operational.

Transition to the new Court will begin after 15 Member States have ratified the 2008 Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights. As of January 2021, 33 states had signed the 2008 Protocol and eight had ratified it (see https://au.int/en/treaties).

Note4 In October 2020, the AU Executive Council decided to postpone the election and appointment of four judges until its

38th Ordinary Session in February 2021 and extended the terms of office of the outgoing judges until their replacement (see EX.CL/Dec.1105(XXXVII) of October 2020 and EX.CL/Dec.1121(XXXVIII) of February 2021).

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Article 28 of the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights, which is annexed to the 2008 Protocol, provides that the Court will have jurisdiction over all cases and legal disputes that relate to, amongst other things: interpretation and application of the AU Constitutive Act, AU treaties and all subsidiary legal instruments, the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (African Human Rights Charter), African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (African Children’s Charter), Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol), other human rights treaties ratified by the State Party concerned and any question of international law.

In June 2014, the Assembly adopted a further Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights (Assembly/AU/Dec.529(XXIII)). As of January 2021, 15 countries had signed the 2014 Protocol and none had ratified it (see https://au.int/treaties).

Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC)The African Union and Senegal agreed in August 2012 to establish the Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) within the Senegalese judicial system to “prosecute and try the person(s) most responsible for crimes and serious violations of international law, customary international law and international conventions ratified by Chad, committed on the territory of Chad during the period from 7 June 1982 to 1 December 1990” (EAC Statute, article 3). In line with article 37 of the Statute, the Chambers were dissolved automatically after a final appeal by lawyers for Hissène Habré, President of Chad 1982–90, was decided in April 2017.

In January 2018, the AU Assembly adopted the Statute of the Trust Fund for victims of the Hissène Habré crimes (Assembly/AU/Dec.676(XXX)). The purpose of the Statute is to establish an institutional framework for compensation and reparations for victims (article 3).

AU Commission on International Law (AUCIL)Office of the AUC Legal CounselPO Box 3243Roosevelt Street (Old Airport Area)W21K19Addis AbabaEthiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 518 2308Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 7844Email: adewalei@africa-union.org

PurposeThe AU Commission on International Law (AUCIL) was created in 2009 as an independent advisory organ in accordance with article 5(2) of the AU Constitutive Act. Article 5(2) provides for the Assembly to establish organs as it deems necessary.

Under article 4 of the AUCIL Statute, the Commission’s objectives include to:• Undertake activities relating to codification and progressive development of international

law in Africa, with particular attention to the laws of the AU • Propose draft framework agreements and model regulations • Assist in the revision of existing treaties and identify areas in which new treaties are required • Conduct studies on legal matters of interest to the AU and its Member States • Encourage the teaching, study, publication and dissemination of literature on international

law, in particular, the laws of the AU, with a view to promoting respect for the principles of international law, the peaceful resolution of conflicts and respect for the AU and recourse to its organs.

136 EvolutionAn African Commission on International Law was initially proposed in May 2004 by a meeting of experts reviewing OAU/AU treaties. In July 2004, the AU Executive Council requested the Chairperson of the Commission to elaborate detailed proposals on the mandate, structure and financial implications of the proposal (EX.CL/Dec.129(V)). The Assembly reaffirmed this in January 2005 as part of its decision on the African Union Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact (Assembly/AU/Dec.71(IV)). Article 14 of the Pact undertook to establish an African Union Commission on International Law.

The AUCIL was formally established in February 2009 when its Statute was adopted by the AU Assembly’s 12th Ordinary Session (Assembly/AU/Dec.209(XII)). The Assembly appointed members in July 2009 (Assembly/AU/Dec.249(XIII)), following election and recommendation by the Executive Council. The AUCIL became operational in 2010.

StructureThe AUCIL consists of 11 elected members and reflects the principles of equitable geographical representation, the principal legal systems and gender representation. Members have traditionally been elected by the Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly. In February 2020, the Assembly decided to delegate its authority to the Executive Council to appoint members (Assembly/AU/Dec.760(XXXIII)).

Members shall have recognised competence in international law, and serve in their personal capacities. No two members may be of the same nationality. Members are elected by secret ballot, usually for five-year terms that are renewable once. To avoid the departure of all 11 members after the first term, five of the members elected at the first election were to serve initial three-year terms. A member may be elected to replace a member for the remainder of the predecessor’s term (AUCIL Statute, article 12).

The Commission elects a chairperson, vice-chairperson and a general rapporteur as the Bureau. Terms are for two years, renewable once. The Bureau coordinates the Commission’s activities and, between sessions, acts on behalf of the Commission under the Chairperson’s guidance.

The Commission’s composition and the election of members are governed by articles 3 and 10–14 of its Statute. Members perform their duties on a part-time basis (article 15).

In accordance with article 21 of the AUCIL Statute, the AUC provides the staff and infrastructure to the AUCIL Secretariat to enable it to carry out its duties effectively. The AUCIL Secretariat is headed by an executive secretary and is located in the Office of the Legal Counsel. Equatorial Guinea has offered to host the Secretariat (see EX.CL/Dec.1047(XXXIV) of February 2019 and EX.CL/Dec.1083(XXXVI) of February 2020).

MeetingsUnder the AUCIL Statute, article 15, the Commission meets twice a year in ordinary session at AU Headquarters and may meet elsewhere. It may meet in extraordinary session at the request of the Chairperson or two-thirds of the members. The quorum is six members (article 16). In June 2018, the AU Executive Council asked the AUCIL to, amongst other things, consider holding open sessions to enable Member States to participate in its activities (EX.CL/Dec.1019(XXXIII)).

In addition to ordinary sessions, the AUCIL holds an annual Forum on International Law, usually for two days. The Forum is a platform for international law experts and enthusiasts to deliberate on relevant major topics, create awareness about AU and international law, and identify ways to accelerate regional integration. The Forum has been held in Egypt, Equatorial

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Guinea, Ethiopia and Ghana. The AUCIL also consults with inter-governmental, international and national organisations.

Members

Sebastião Da Silva Isata Pereira, Angola (elected in January 2015; re-elected in February 2020)Bélibi Sébastien Daila, Burkina Faso (elected in February 2020)Abdi Ismail Hersi, Djibouti (elected in January 2015; re-elected in February 2020)Mohamed S Helal, Egypt (elected in February 2020)Tomassa Bisia Ela Nchama, Equatorial Guinea (elected in February 2019)Kevin Ferdinand Ndjimba, Gabon (elected in June 2018)Kathleen Quartey Ayensu, Ghana (elected in January 2017; re-elected in February 2020)5

Narindra Arivelo Ramananarivo, Madagascar (elected in June 2018)Hajer Gueldich, Tunisia (elected in January 2015; re-elected in June 2018)6

Juliet Semambo Kalema, Uganda (elected in January 2015; re-elected in February 2020)Sindiso H Sichone, Zambia (elected in June 2018)

Bureau: from 2019

Chairperson: Sebastião Da Silva Isata Pereira, Angola Vice-Chairperson: Abdi Ismail Hersi, Djibouti General Rapporteur: Kevin Ferdinand Ndjimba, Gabon

AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC)

Notes7 Kathleen Quartey Ayensu, Ghana, was appointed as an AUCIL member for the remaining three years of the term held by

the late Ebenezer Appreku, Ghana, who had been elected in July 2009 and re-elected in January 2015.8 Hajer Gueldich was elected by the AU Assembly in January 2015 to replace Rafaâ Ben Achour, Tunisia, who had abeen

elected in January 2013 for a five-year term ending in June 2018 but later resigned.

Arusha International Conference Centre (AICC)Serengeti Wings, 3rd and 7th FloorsEast Africa RoadSekeiPO Box 6071 ArushaTanzania

Tel: +255 (0) 27 205 0030 Fax: +255 (0) 27 205 0031Email: info@auanticorruption.org

or auabcregistry@africa-union.org Website: www.auanticorruption.org Facebook: www.facebook.com/infoauabc

Chairperson: to be advisedExecutive Secretary: Charity Hanene Nchimunya, Zambia (since 2016)

PurposeThe AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) was established in May 2009 as part of the African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption, which entered into force in August 2006. Under article 22(5) of the Convention, the Board is mandated to promote and encourage State Parties to adopt measures and actions to meet the Convention objectives and to follow up the application of those measures. As of July 2020, 49 countries had signed and 44 had ratified the Convention. The full list of signatories and ratifications is at https://au.int/treaties.

The Board’s main mandate is to promote and encourage the adoption of measures and actions by State Parties to the Convention to prevent, detect, punish and eradicate corruption and related offences in Africa; to follow up on the measures; and to regularly submit reports to

138 the AU Executive Council on the progress made by each State Party in complying with the provisions of the Convention.

The Board’s mission, as stated in article 22(5) of the Convention, also includes to: collect and document information about the nature and scope of corruption and related offences in Africa; advise governments on how to deal with corruption and related offences; develop and promote the adoption of harmonised codes of conduct for public officials; and build partnerships with all the continental stakeholders to facilitate dialogue in the fight against corruption.

Membership The Board is composed of 11 members who serve in their personal capacities. Terms are for two years, and members can be re-elected once. Potential members are nominated by AU Member States. The AU Executive Council elects the members, taking gender and geographical representation into account. Members were traditionally appointed by the AU Assembly, but more recently the Assembly decided to delegate its authority to the Executive Council to appoint members (see Assembly/AU/Dec.743(XXXII) of February 2019 and Assembly/AU/Dec.760(XXXIII) of February 2020).

The Board elects its bureau from among the members, comprising a chairperson, vice-chairperson and rapporteur. Bureau members are appointed for two years. The Bureau’s role is to ensure the planning and coordination of Board activities necessary to execute its functions under article 22(5) of the Convention. The Board is supported by the Executive Secretariat, which is managed by the Executive Secretary. The Secretariat functions under the direction of the Bureau and the supervision of the Rapporteur.

Advisory Board members: 2021–23 (seventh board)

Appointed by the AU Executive Council in February 2021Pascoal António Joaquim, Angola Jean Claude Bizimana, Burundi Jean Louis Andriamifidy, Madagascar (re-appointed)Seynabou Ndiaye Diakhate, Senegal Francis Ben Kaifala, Sierra Leone Agness Kayobo Ng’andu, Zambia (re-appointed)

Appointed by the AU Assembly in February 2020Amal Mahmoud Ammar Khalifa, Egypt (re-appointed)

Appointed by the AU Executive Council in July 2019 Anne-Marie Rose Kibongui-Saminou Mougemba, Congo Republic (re-appointed)Sabina Seja, Tanzania (re-appointed)Hocine Aït Chalal, Algeria (re-appointed)Samuel Mbithi Kimeu, Kenya (floating seat)

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African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC)Secretariat of the ACERWCMaseruLesotho

Email: info@acerwc.orgWebsite: www.acerwc.africaFacebook: www.facebook.com/acerwcTwitter: @acerwc

Chairperson: Joseph Ndayisenga, Burundi (2019–21)Acting Secretary: Catherine Wanjiru Maina, Kenya (since November 2018)

PurposeThe African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) draws its mandate from articles 32–46 of the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACRWC), which was adopted by the OAU Heads of State and Government on 11 July 1990 and came into force on 29 November 1999. As of January 2021, 50 AU Member States had ratified the Charter and five were still to ratify: Morocco, Sahrawi Republic, Somalia, South Sudan and Tunisia. (See https://au.int/treaties for the full list, including reservations by four ratifying states.)

The Charter provides for an 11-member committee of experts. The Committee is supported by a secretariat. The Committee’s functions, as set out in article 42 of the Charter, include to:1. Promote and protect the rights enshrined in the Charter, particularly:

(i) Collect and document information, commission inter-disciplinary assessment of situations on African problems in the fields of the rights and welfare of children, organise meetings, encourage national and local institutions concerned with the rights and welfare of children, and, where necessary, give its views and make recommendations to governments

(ii) Formulate and lay down principles and rules aimed at protecting the rights and welfare of children in Africa

(iii) Cooperate with other African, international and regional institutions and organisations concerned with the promotion and protection of the rights and welfare of children

2. Monitor the implementation of and ensure protection of the rights enshrined in the Charter3. Interpret the provisions of the Charter at the request of a State Party, an AU/OAU

institution or any other person or institution recognised by the AU/OAU4. Perform other tasks as entrusted by the Assembly.

Details about the mandate and functions of the Committee are available on the website www.acerwc.africa.

Following a 2018 decision by the AU Executive Council on relocation of the Secretariat (EX.CL/Dec.1010(XXXIII)), the ACERWC is now based in Maseru, Lesotho. In February 2020, the Assembly adopted the staffing structure for the Secretariat (see Assembly/AU/Dec.750(XXXIII) and EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI)).

MeetingsThe Committee convenes various meetings, seminars and workshops in line with its promotional mandate. In addition, the Committee holds ordinary sessions twice a year, and an extraordinary session when necessary. Proceedings of the Committee’s sessions are available at www.acerwc.africa/sessions.

140 MembershipThe 11 members serve in their personal capacities. They are elected by secret ballot from a list of people nominated by State Parties to the Charter (ACRWC Charter, article 34). Members were traditionally elected by the Executive Council and appointed by the Assembly. In February 2020, the Assembly decided to delegate its authority to the Executive Council to appoint members (Assembly/AU/Dec.760(XXXIII)).

Candidates are required to be of high moral standing, integrity, impartiality and competence in matters of the rights and welfare of children. Under the Charter, terms are for five years, but to avoid the departure of all 11 members after the first term, article 37 provided for the terms of two members to expire after two years and six after four years, as determined in a draw of lots by the AU Assembly Chairperson immediately after the first election. Article 37 originally stated that members could not be re-elected. In January 2015, the AU Assembly adopted an amendment to article 37(1) to provide for members to be re-elected once for a five-year term (Assembly/AU/Dec.548(XXIV)). The amendment entered into force on its adoption.

Bureau members are elected from within the Committee for two-year terms (article 38).

Members

Elected and appointed by the Executive Council in February 2021 for five-year terms7

Wilson Almeida Adao, Angola Karoonawtee Chooramun, Mauritius Aboubekrine El Jera, Mauritania8 (re-appointed)Aver Gavar, Nigeria (second term)Anne Musiwa, Zimbabwe Robert Doya Nanima, Uganda Theophane Marie Xavier Nikyema, Burkina Faso

June 2018 to June 2023Joseph Ndayisenga, Burundi (second term)Moushira Khattab, Egypt9 Sidikou Aissatou, Niger (second term)

February 2019 to February 2024Hermine Kembo Takam Gatsing, Cameroon

Bureau: 2019–21

Chairperson: Joseph Ndayisenga, Burundi First Vice-Chairperson: Moushira Khattab, EgyptSecond Vice-Chairperson: Sidikou Aissatou, Niger Rapporteur: Hermine Kembo Takam Gatsing, CameroonSecond Rapporteur: Maria Mapani-Kawimbe, Zambia

Notes7 In October 2020, the AU Executive Council decided to postpone the election and appointment of six members until its

38th Ordinary Session in February 2021 and extend the terms of office of the outgoing members until their replacement (see EX.CL/Dec.1105(XXXVII) of October 2020 and EX.CL/Dec.1122(XXXVIII) of February 2021).

8 Member Mohamed Ould Ahmedou dit H’Meyada, Mauritania, died in March 2019. Aboubekrine El Jera, Mauritania, was appointed by the AU Assembly in February 2020 to complete the term (Assembly/AU/Dec.781(XXXIII)).

9 Member Azza El Ashmawy, Egypt, died in 2020. Moushira Khattab, Egypt, was appointed by the AU Executive Council in October 2020 to complete the term.

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Legal Aid Fund for the African Union Human Rights Organs The Statute on the Establishment of the Legal Aid Fund of the AU Human Rights Organs was adopted by the AU Assembly at its 26th Ordinary Session, held in January 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI)). The objectives of the Fund are to mobilise and receive resources to finance the legal aid scheme of the organs and to foster stakeholder cooperation for the provision of legal aid on the continent. The AU Executive Council has urged the AU Commission to operationalise the Fund (see EX.CL/Dec.1044(XXXIV) and EX.CL/Dec.1064(XXXV) of February and July 2019, and EX.CL/Dec.1079(XXXVI) of February 2020). The operationalisation processes are ongoing.

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AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONS

144 FINANCIAL INSTITUTIONSArticle 19 of the African Union (AU) Constitutive Act provides for three specific financial organs to be created, the African Central Bank (ACB), the African Investment Bank (AIB) and the African Monetary Fund (AMF). The role of these institutions is to implement the economic integration called for in the 1991 Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty). The 1999 Sirte Declaration, under which the OAU decided to create the AU, called for the speedy establishment of all institutions proposed in the Abuja Treaty. Establishment of the financial institutions is included in the Agenda 2063 flagship projects.

The AU Assembly has adopted protocols for the establishment of the AIB and AMF. Proposed structures for the financial institutions will be submitted to the Executive Council for approval, once the legal instrument for each institution comes into force.

In February 2020, the AU Assembly appointed Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, the President of Ghana, as the Champion of AU Financial Institutions “to provide political leadership and awareness to accelerate their establishment” (Assembly/AU/Dec.769(XXXIII)).

African Central Bank (ACB)The African Central Bank’s (ACB’s) purpose will be to build a common monetary policy and single African currency as a way to accelerate economic integration as envisaged in articles 6 and 44 of the Abuja Treaty. The ACB’s objectives will be to:• Create and manage the continental common currency• Promote international monetary cooperation through a permanent institution• Promote exchange rate stability and avoid competitive exchange-rate depreciation • Assist in the establishment of a multilateral system of payments in respect of current

transactions between members and eliminate foreign exchange restrictions that hamper the growth of world trade.

It is proposed that the ACB headquarters will be in Abuja, Nigeria. The agreed timeframe under Agenda 2063 for establishing the ACB is between 2028 and 2034. Preparations for the ACB will be made through the African Monetary Institute, which is expected to be established as a matter of priority. The establishment of the ACB will be based on the Joint African Union Commission/Association of African Central Banks (AACB) Strategy, which was adopted by the AACB in August 2015. The February 2020 AU Assembly requested the AU Commission to continue working towards the establishment of the ACB and to fast-track the establishment of the Pan African Stock Exchange (Assembly/AU/Dec.769(XXXIII)).

African Investment Bank (AIB)The African Investment Bank’s (AIB’s) purpose will be to foster economic growth and accelerate economic integration in Africa, as envisaged by articles 6 and 44 of the Abuja Treaty. The AIB’s objectives will be to: • Promote public and private sector investment activities intended to advance regional

economic integration of States Parties• Utilise available resources for the implementation of investment projects contributing

to strengthening of the private sector and modernisation of rural sector activities and infrastructures

• Mobilise resources from capital markets inside and outside Africa for the financing of investment projects in African countries

• Provide technical assistance as may be needed in African countries for the study, preparation, financing and execution of investment projects.

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The AU Assembly adopted the AIB Statute at its February 2009 Summit (see Assembly/AU/Dec.212(XII)). The AIB Protocol and Statute will enter into force 30 days after ratification by 15 Member States. As of December 2020, 22 Member States had signed the Protocol, and six had deposited their instruments of ratification: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Congo Republic, Libya and Togo (see https://au.int/treaties). The agreed timeframe under Agenda 2063 for establishing the AIB is 2025. The AIB will be located in Libya (see Assembly/AU/Dec.64(IV)).

African Monetary Fund (AMF)The African Monetary Fund’s (AMF’s) purpose will be to facilitate the integration of African economies by eliminating trade restrictions and providing greater monetary integration, as envisaged under articles 6 and 44 of the Abuja Treaty. The AMF is expected to serve as a pool for central bank reserves and AU Member States’ national currencies. The AMF will prioritise regional macro-economic objectives in its lending policies.

The specific AMF objectives include: • Providing financial assistance to AU Member States• Acting as a clearing house as well as undertaking macro-economic surveillance within

the continent• Coordinating the monetary policies of Member States and promoting cooperation between

their monetary authorities • Encouraging capital movements between Member States.

The AU Assembly adopted the AMF Protocol and Statute at its June 2014 Summit (see Assembly/AU/Dec.517(XXIII)). The Protocol and Statute will enter into force 30 days after ratification by 15 Member States. As of December 2020, 12 Member States had signed the Protocol and only Chad had deposited its instrument of ratification (see https://au.int/treaties). The agreed timeframe under Agenda 2063 for establishing the AMF is 2023. The AMF headquarters will be in Yaoundé, Cameroon (see EX.CL/Dec.329(X) of January 2007). The Headquarters Agreement for the AMF was signed by the Government of Cameroon and the AU Commission in March 2019.

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AFRICAN PEER REVIEW

MECHANISM

148 AFRICAN PEER REVIEW MECHANISM (APRM)Physical Address:No. 230, 15th RoadRandjesparkHalfway HouseMidrandJohannesburgSouth Africa

Postal Address:Private Bag X9Halfway HouseMidrand 1685JohannesburgSouth Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 256 3400/3401Fax: +27 (0) 11 256 3456Email: info@aprm-au.orgWebsite: www.aprm-au.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AfricanPeerReviewMechanism

Twitter: @APRMorg

Chief Executive Officer: Eddy Maloka, South Africa (appointed by the African Peer Review Forum in January 2016; term extended in February 2019 for a further three years)

PurposeThe African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) was established in 2003 by the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Heads of State and Government Implementation Committee (HSGIC) as an instrument for African Union (AU) Member States to voluntarily self-monitor their governance performance.

The Mechanism is a voluntary arrangement amongst African states to systematically assess and review governance at Head of State peer level in order to promote political stability, accelerated sub-regional and continental economic integration, economic growth and sustainable development.

By acceding to the APRM, Member States agree to independently review their compliance with African and international governance commitments. Performance and progress are measured in four thematic areas: democracy and political governance; economic governance and management; corporate governance; and socio-economic development.

Each review leads to a national programme of action for the state concerned to address problems identified. A national monitoring body prepares six-monthly and annual reports on progress in implementing the national programme of action for submission to meetings of the APRM Forum of Heads of State and Government. Country review reports are made available to the public after the APRM Forum peer review.

EvolutionFrom establishment in March 2003, the APRM operated as an independent body under a memorandum of understanding signed by Member States. The AU Assembly decided in June 2014 that the APRM should be integrated into the AU system as an autonomous body (Assembly/AU/Dec.527(XXIII)). Since then, work has been undertaken on revitalising and widening the role of the APRM. This includes positioning the APRM as an early warning tool for conflict prevention in Africa, and including a monitoring and evaluation role for the AU Agenda 2063 and UN Sustainable Development Goals (see Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII) of February 2020).

The APRM Forum presented its first Africa Governance Report to the AU Assembly in February 2019, and is scheduled to present an updated report every two years.

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In July 2019, the Executive Council requested the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Justice and Legal Affairs to review the APRM Rules of Procedure and draft Statute (see Assembly/AU/Dec.758(XXXIII) and Assembly/AU/Dec.765(XXXIII) of February 2020).

Structure The APRM has structures at both continental and national levels. The following bodies are the structures at the continental level:• African Peer Review (APR) Forum: a committee of all participating Member States’ Heads

of State and Government. The Forum is the APRM’s highest decision-making authority.• APR Panel: composed of eminent persons from all five of Africa’s regions and

appointed by the Forum, and responsible for ensuring the Mechanism’s independence, professionalism and credibility. Panel members are selected and appointed by the Forum for a term of up to four years, with the exception of the Chairperson and the Vice-Chairperson, who are appointed for one-year, non-renewable terms.

• APRM Focal Point Committee: composed of the personal representatives of the Heads of State of the participating countries. The Committee is a ministerial body acting as an intermediary between the APR Forum and the APRM Secretariat. It is responsible for administrative and budgetary matters, and reports to the APR Forum.

• APR Secretariat: provides technical, coordinating and administrative support services to the APRM.

The APRM country structures are:• National Focal Point• National Commission/National Governing Council• National Secretariat.

The APRM also has special support agreements with five Africa-based institutions designated by the Forum as strategic partners: the African Development Bank (AfDB), UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), UN Development Programme (UNDP) Regional Bureau for Africa, Mo Ibrahim Foundation and the African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF).

MeetingsThe 29th APRM Forum Summit was held on the margins of the AU Assembly Ordinary Session in February 2020.

MembershipAs of February 2021, 40 AU Member States had acceded to the APRM.

APR Forum Chairpersons

Cyril Ramaphosa, President of South Africa (elected in February 2020)Idriss Déby Itno, (former) President of Chad (Chairperson 2018–20)Uhuru Kenyatta, President of Kenya (Chairperson 2015–17)Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, (former) President of Liberia (Chairperson 2013–15)Hailemariam Desalegn, (former) Prime Minister of Ethiopia (Chairperson 2012–13)Meles Zenawi, (former) Prime Minister of Ethiopia (Chairperson 2007–12)Olusegun Obasanjo, (former) President of Nigeria (Chairperson 2003–07)

150 APR Panel of Eminent Persons

Chairperson: Fatima Zohra Karadja, Algeria (from February 2020; appointed Panel member in January 2017)

Vice-Chairperson: Ombeni Yohana Sefue, Tanzania (from February 2020; appointed Panel member in January 2017)

Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, Nigeria (appointed in January 2017)Mona Omar Mohamed Attia, Egypt (appointed in January 2017)Dinis Salomão Sengulane, Mozambique (appointed in January 2017)Ali Abderahman Haggar, Chad (appointed in February 2019)Honoré Mobanda, Congo Republic (appointed in February 2020)Ousmane M Diallo, Mali (appointed in February 2020)Hope Kivengere, Uganda (appointed in February 2020)Inonge Mbikusita-Lewanika, Zambia (appointed in February 2020)

Member States (40)

Algeria

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Chad

Congo Republic

Côte d’Ivoire

Djibouti

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Rwanda

São Tomé and Príncipe

Senegal

Seychelles

Sierra Leone

South Africa

Sudan

Tanzania

Togo

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

REGIONAL ECONOMIC

COMMUNITIES

152 REGIONAL ECONOMIC COMMUNITIES (RECs)

Note1 UMA signed the Protocol on Relations between the RECs and the AU in 2018.

The Regional Economic Communities (RECs) are regional groupings of African states, each led by a Head of State or Government on a rotational basis. They have developed individually and have differing but complementary roles and structures. Generally, the purpose of the RECs is to facilitate regional economic integration between members of the individual regions and through the wider African Economic Community (AEC), which was established under the Abuja Treaty (1991). The 1980 Lagos Plan of Action for the Development of Africa and the Abuja Treaty proposed the creation of RECs as the basis for wider African integration, with a view to facilitating regional and eventual continental integration. The RECs are increasingly involved in coordinating African Union (AU) Member States’ interests in wider areas such as peace and security, development and governance.

The RECs work closely with the AU and serve as its building blocks. The complementary relationship between the AU and the RECs is mandated by the Abuja Treaty and the AU Constitutive Act, and guided by the: 2008 Protocol on Relations between the RECs and the AU; Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the African Union Peace and Security Council (2002); Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on Cooperation in the Area of Peace and Security between the AU, RECs and the Regional Mechanisms (RMs) for Conflict Prevention, Management and Resolution of Regional Standby Brigades of Eastern and North Africa; and Agenda 2063.

In February 2020, the AU Assembly adopted the Protocol on Relations between the AU and the RECs, and authorised the Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC) to sign the Protocol on behalf of the Union (Assembly/AU/Dec.767(XXXIII)). The Assembly also adopted the Rules of Procedure for the Mid-Year Coordination Meetings. In addition, the Assembly adopted the draft Revised Protocol on Relations between the AU and the RECs, and delegated its authority to consider and adopt draft legal instruments to the Executive Council.

The AU recognises eight RECs, the: • Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)1

• Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) • Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD) • East African Community (EAC)• Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) • Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) • Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)• Southern African Development Community (SADC).

All of these RECs have observer status with the United Nations. In addition, the RECs, as well as the Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM, now the EASF Secretariat) and North African Regional Capability (NARC), have liaison offices at the AU.

StructureThe Protocol on Relations between the RECs and the AU provides for a coordination framework between the AEC and the RECs. This framework has the following two elements.

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Committee on Coordination The Committee provides policy advice and oversight of implementation of the Protocol (article 7). It is also tasked with coordinating and monitoring progress made by the RECs in meeting the regional integration goal stages detailed in article 6 of the Abuja Treaty.

The Committee comprises the Chairperson of the AUC, Chief Executives of the RECs, Executive Secretary of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA), President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) and chief executives of the AU financial institutions.

Under article 8 of the Protocol, the Committee must meet at least twice a year. It is chaired by the Chairperson of the AUC. Committee decisions are taken by consensus or, when consensus cannot be reached, by a simple majority of the members present and voting. Committee decisions are forwarded to the Executive Council as policy recommendations. Committee members may be accompanied to meetings by experts and advisers.

Committee of Secretariat Officials The Committee prepares technical reports for consideration by the Committee on Coordination (article 9 of the Protocol). It is composed of AUC and RECs’ senior officials responsible for community affairs, as well as UNECA and AfDB senior officials.

The Committee usually meets at least twice a year, prior to Committee on Coordination meetings, and is chaired by the AUC. Committee decisions are reached by consensus or, when consensus is lacking, by simple majority vote (article 9).

MeetingsAs part of institutional reforms, the AU Assembly decided that, from 2019, it would meet once a year in ordinary session, not twice. In place of the mid-year Assembly Summit, the Bureau of the Assembly would hold a coordination meeting with the RECs, with the participation of the Chairpersons of the RECs, the AUC and the RMs (Assembly/AU/Dec.635(XXVIII) of January 2017). The first Mid-Year Coordination Meeting of the AU and the RECs was held on 8 July 2019 in Niamey, Niger. The second was to be held on 4 July 2020 in N’Djamena, Chad, but was changed to a videoconference meeting on 22 October 2020 because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Arab Maghreb Union (UMA)73 Rue Tensift Agdal 10080RabatMorocco

Tel: +212 (0) 537 681 371/72/73/74Fax: +212 (0) 537 681 377Email: sg.uma@maghrebarabe.org

Website: www.umaghrebarabe.org (Arabic and French)Facebook: www.facebook.com/SG.Union.Maghreb.ArabeTwitter: @SGmaghrebarabe

Secretary-General: Taieb Baccouche, Tunisia (appointed by the Council of Foreign Affairs Ministers on 5 May 2016; assumed office on 1 August 2016)

PurposeThe Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) was established under the Marrakesh Treaty of 1989. The aims of the Treaty include “strengthening the ties of brotherhood which link Member States and their people to one another; achieving progress and prosperity of their societies and defending their rights; pursuing a common policy in different domains; contributing to the preservation of peace based on justice and equity; and working gradually towards free movement of persons and transfer of services, goods and capital among them”.

154 Article 3 of the Treaty provides that the Union’s objectives are to promote:• Close diplomatic ties and dialogue between Member States while safeguarding their

independence• Mechanisms for Member States’ industrial, commercial and social development, including

through common sectoral programmes• Measures to support Islamic values and the safeguarding of the National Arabic identity

through mechanisms such as cultural exchange, research and education programmes.

StructureUMA is a political-level body supported by a secretariat whose headquarters are located in Rabat, Morocco. The structures set out in the Marrakesh Treaty are: • Council of the Presidency, which is the supreme decision-making organ• Council of the Prime Ministers, which coordinates policy• Council of Foreign Ministers, which prepares Presidency sessions and examines Follow-up

Committee proposals• Follow-up Committee, which is a national officials-level committee tasked with implementing

UMA decisions• Four Special Ministerial Committees, which deal with thematic areas• General Secretariat, which is the executive for the Union and Consultative Council• Consultative Council, which is composed of legislative representatives from each country

and tasked with sharing opinions and recommendations on draft Council of the Presidency decisions.

In addition, the Marrakesh Treaty provides for a range of other institutions, including the: Judicial Authority, composed of two judges from each state with the authority to interpret or rule on issues relating to the UMA; Maghreb University and Academy; and Maghreb Bank for Investment and Foreign Trade.

Recent efforts to develop structures within the UMA Secretariat in the area of peace and security include: a decision in 2014 to create the Department of Political Affairs, Information and Cabinet; and a decision in 2012 to establish four high-level expert groups – on counter-terrorism, drug trafficking, migration, and civil protection – to examine the challenges in their respective areas of competence, share information and national experiences in addressing the challenges and offer recommendations. The country convenors of the groups are: Tunisia (counter-terrorism); Algeria (drug trafficking); Mauritania (civil protection); and Morocco (migration). The groups meet once or twice a year, and their reports are submitted to the UMA ministers of interior.

MeetingsThe Marrakesh Treaty provides for the Council of the Presidency to meet once a year in ordinary session and in extraordinary session as required. The Council of the Presidency is the only decision-making body. Decisions are taken unanimously. Under the Treaty, the Presidency should rotate every year although it has not always done so. Six summits have been held since 1990.

Members (5)

Algeria

Libya

Mauritania

Morocco

Tunisia

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Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA)COMESA SecretariatCOMESA CentreBen Bella RoadLusakaZambia

Tel: +260 (0) 211 229 725/35Fax: +260 (0) 211 225 107Email: info@comesa.int or comesa@comesa.intWebsite: www.comesa.int

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ComesaSecretariatTwitter: @comesa_lusaka

Chairperson: Andry Rajoelina, MadagascarSecretary-General: Chileshe Kapwepwe, Zambia (appointed by the COMESA Authority in July 2018

for a five-year term)

PurposeThe Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) was established in 1994 by the COMESA Treaty “as an organisation of free independent sovereign states which have agreed to cooperate in developing their natural and human resources for the good of all their people”. Article 3 of the Treaty provides that the aims and objectives of COMESA are to: attain sustainable growth and development of Member States; promote joint development in all fields of economic activity; cooperate in the creation of an enabling environment for foreign, cross-border and domestic investment; promote peace, security and stability among the Member States; and cooperate in strengthening relations between the Common Market and the rest of the world.

EvolutionRegional trade integration was formally first proposed in 1978 by the Lusaka Declaration of Intent and Commitment to the Establishment of a Preferential Trade Area (PTA) for Eastern and Southern Africa. The Treaty establishing the PTA was signed in 1981 and entered into force in 1982. The Common Market envisaged in the PTA was created under the COMESA Treaty, which was signed in 1993 and entered into force in 1994.

StructureCOMESA is accountable to the Heads of State and Government of its 21 Member States. Its structure includes the Council of Ministers (responsible for policy making), 12 technical committees and a series of subsidiary advisory bodies. Overall coordination is managed by the COMESA Secretariat, which is based in Lusaka, Zambia. Several other institutions promote sub-regional cooperation and development, including the: • Trade and Development Bank of Eastern and Southern Africa (PTA Bank) in Bujumbura,

Burundi• COMESA Clearing House in Harare, Zimbabwe• Africa Leather and Leather Products Institute (ALLPI) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia• Re-Insurance Company (ZEP-RE) in Nairobi, Kenya• African Trade Insurance Agency in Nairobi, Kenya• COMESA Competition Commission in Lilongwe, Malawi• Regional Investment Agency in Cairo, Egypt• COMESA Monetary Institute in Nairobi, Kenya• COMESA Federation of Women in Business (FEMCOMFWB) in Lilongwe, Malawi• Alliance for Commodity Trade in Eastern and Southern Africa (ACTESA) in Lusaka, Zambia• COMESA Business Council (CBC) in Lusaka, Zambia• Regional Association of Energy Regulators in Eastern and Southern Africa (RAERESA)

in Lusaka, Zambia.

156 In addition, the COMESA Court of Justice was established under the Treaty to deal with issues pertaining to COMESA and interpretation of the COMESA Treaty. The Court became operational in 1998. It is based in Khartoum, Sudan.

MeetingsCOMESA Heads of State and Government usually meet at an annual summit to make policy decisions and elect representatives. COMESA may also hold extraordinary meetings at the request of any of its members. Summit decisions are reached by consensus. The office of Chairperson is usually held for one year in rotation among the Member States. The Summit discusses business submitted to it by the Council of Ministers (which usually meets twice each year) and any other matter that may have a bearing on COMESA. The 20th COMESA Summit was held in July 2018.

Members (21)

Note2 The former President of Chad, Idriss Déby Itno, was the President of CEN-SAD prior to his death in April 2021.

Burundi

Comoros

DR Congo

Djibouti

Egypt

Eritrea

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Kenya

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Sudan

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD)CEN–SAD SecretariatPlace d’AlgériePO Box 4041Libya

Tel: +218 361 4832/833Fax: +218 361 4833Email: censad_sg@yahoo.com

President: to be advised2

Secretary-General: Ibrahim Sani Abani, Niger (appointed by the Conference of Heads of State and Government during an extraordinary session in February 2013)

The Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD) was formed in 1998 with the primary objective of promoting the economic, cultural, political and social integration of its Member States. The Treaty establishing the Community, which was revised in 2013, provides that the aims and objectives of CEN–SAD are to:• Establish a comprehensive economic union with a particular focus on the agricultural,

industrial, social, cultural and energy fields• Adopt measures to promote free movement of individuals and capital• Promote measures to encourage foreign trade, transportation and telecommunications

among Member States• Promote measures to coordinate educational systems• Promote cooperation in cultural, scientific and technical fields.

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StructureCEN–SAD is governed by its Conference of Heads of State and Government. The organisation’s structure includes the:• Executive Council, which meets at ministerial level to implement Conference decisions• Permanent Peace and Security Council to address security concerns • Permanent Council in charge of sustainable development • Committee of Ambassadors and Permanent Representatives• General Secretariat, which is CEN–SAD’s executive body• Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ESCC), which follows Executive Council directives• Sahel–Saharan Investment and Trade Bank.

MeetingsThe Conference of Heads of State and Government is scheduled to meet once a year in ordinary session, rotating among Member State capitals. It can meet in extraordinary session at the request of one Member State.

The organisation’s most recent Conference of Heads of State and Government was held in February 2013 in N’Djamena, Chad. The CEN–SAD Executive Council met in March 2014 in Khartoum, Sudan. The same meeting decided that Morocco would host the next CEN–SAD Conference of Heads of State and Government.

Members (25)3

Note3 Cabo Verde, Kenya, Liberia and São Tomé and Príncipe did not sign the revised CEN–SAD Treaty and are no longer members.

Benin

Burkina Faso

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Côte d’Ivoire

Djibouti

Egypt

Eritrea

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Libya

Mali

Mauritania

Morocco

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

Sudan

Togo

Tunisia

East African Community (EAC)East African Community SecretariatEAC Close Afrika Mashariki RoadPO Box 1096ArushaTanzania

Tel: +255 (0) 27 216 2100Fax: +255 (0) 27 216 2190Email: eac@eachq.org Website: www.eac.intFacebook: www.facebook.com/proudlyeastafricanTwitter: @jumuiya

Chairperson: Paul Kagame, Rwanda (elected in February 2019) Secretary-General: Libérat Mfumukeko, Burundi (appointed on 2 March 2016 for one five-year term)

PurposeThe East African Community (EAC) was initiated in 1999 as an economic and political entity of the five East African countries. EAC’s vision is a prosperous, competitive, secure, stable and politically united East Africa. Its mission is to widen and deepen economic, political,

158 social and cultural integration in order to improve the quality of life of East African people through increased competitiveness, value-added production, trade and investments. The EAC countries established a customs union in 2005 and a common market in 2010. EAC aims to create a monetary union as the next step in integration and, ultimately, become a political federation of East African states.

EvolutionThe EAC was first formed in 1967 but collapsed in 1977 because of political differences. In 1993, the Agreement for the Establishment of the Permanent Tripartite Commission (PTC) for East African Co-operation was established, and, in 1996, the Commission’s Secretariat was launched. In 1997, leaders directed the PTC to upgrade the agreement establishing the Commission into a treaty. This Treaty entered into force on 7 July 2000 following its ratification by the original three partner states: Kenya, Uganda and Tanzania. Rwanda and Burundi acceded to the EAC Treaty on 18 June 2007 and became full members of EAC from 1 July 2007. In March 2016, the EAC 17th Summit decided to admit South Sudan as a new member. South Sudan formally signed the Treaty in April 2016.

StructureThe seven EAC organs are the:• Summit: composed of the Heads of State and Government, the Summit gives general

directions and impetus for development and achievement of objectives. The office of Chairperson is held for one year in rotation among the partner states

• Council of Ministers: the policy organ• Coordination Committee: composed of the permanent secretaries, the Committee submits

reports and recommendations to the Council either on its own initiative or on request from the Council, and implements Council decisions

• Sectoral Committees: whose roles are to monitor and review implementation of EAC programmes

• East African Court of Justice: whose role is to ensure adherence to interpretation and application of, and compliance with, the Treaty establishing the EAC

• East African Legislative Assembly: the legislative organ• Secretariat: the executive organ, whose role is to ensure that regulations and directives

adopted by the Council are properly implemented.

MeetingsThe Summit usually meets twice a year, traditionally on 20 April and 30 November, and may hold extraordinary meetings at the request of any of its members. Decisions are reached by consensus. The Summit discusses business submitted to it by the Council and any other matters that may have a bearing on the EAC. The Council usually meets twice a year, including immediately prior to a summit meeting. Extraordinary meetings may be held at the request of a partner state or the Chairperson of the Council.

Members (6)

Burundi

Kenya

Rwanda

South Sudan

Tanzania

Uganda

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Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS)Haut de GuegueB.P. 2112 LibrevilleGabon

Tel: +241 01 444 731Fax: +241 01 444 732Email: Sandra.dombele@ceeac-eccas.org

Website: https://ceeac-eccas.org/en/Facebook: www.facebook.com/ceeac.orgTwitter: @CEEAC_ECCASYouTube: www.youtube.com/watch?v=WCgkcSifF-o (French)

Chairperson: Denis Sassou Nguesso, Congo Republic (appointed in November 2020)President of the Commission: Gilberto Da Piedade Verissimo, Angola (appointed in September

2020 by the ECCAS Chairperson for a five-year term)

PurposeThe Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) has the primary objectives of strengthening regional integration and cooperation among central African countries in all respects, including peace and security, finance and economy, as well as contributing to the overall development of the continent as a whole. Article 4 of the Treaty establishing ECCAS provides that the community’s objectives are to:• Achieve collective autonomy• Raise the standard of living of its populations• Maintain economic stability through harmonious cooperation.

EvolutionThe Treaty Establishing the Economic Community of Central African States was signed in October 1983 in Libreville, Gabon, and entered into force in December 1984. Following internal crises in many Member States, ECCAS ceased activities between 1992 and 1998. ECCAS was revitalised by a Heads of State and Government decision at the 1998 Summit in Libreville. In December 2019, ECCAS Heads of State and Government revised the Treaty and this entered into force on 28 August 2020. Official texts that govern the operation of ECCAS are on its website, https://ceeac-eccas.org/en/.

StructureECCAS is governed by its Conference of Heads of State and Government, which is the supreme organ of ECCAS. Its structure also includes other organs, the:• Council of Ministers, which oversees policy implementation• Commission, which fulfils ECCAS’s executive functions• Technical specialised committees, which formulate policy recommendations in thematic areas• Inter-state Committee of Experts• Permanent Representatives Committee.

Other ECCAS institutions include the:• Parliament of the Community• Court of Justice, which has the jurisdiction to rule on the legality of decisions, directives

and regulations of ECCAS • Consultative Commission, which operates at expert level to support research and

implementation of ECCAS programmes and decisions• Financial Institutions• Other special institutions.

160 MeetingsUnder article 12 of the ECCAS Revised Treaty, the Conference is scheduled to meet annually. The Council is scheduled to meet twice a year in ordinary session, once prior to the Conference. It can also meet as required in extraordinary session.

Members (11)

Note4 Rwanda was one of the founding members, then left ECCAS in 2007. In May 2015, the ECCAS Conference of Heads of State

and Government signed an agreement on Rwanda’s readmission. Rwanda deposited the ratified document in August 2016.

Angola

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Congo Republic

DR Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

Rwanda4

São Tomé and Príncipe

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS)101, Yakubu Gowon CrescentAsokoro District PMB 401 AbujaNigeria

Tel: +234 (0) 9 3147 647 or 3147 627Fax: +234 (0) 9 3143 005 or 3147 646Email: info@ecowas.intWebsite: www.ecowas.int

Facebook: www.facebook.com/pages/Ecowas_Cedeao/Twitter: @ecowas_cedeaoYouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCJBEr-975-PKlVtgoms9Qvw

Authority Chairperson: Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Ghana (elected by the ECOWAS Authority of Heads of State and Government in September 2020 for a one-year term)

Commission President: Jean-Claude Kassi Brou, Côte d’Ivoire (appointed by the Authority of Heads of State and Government in December 2017 for a four-year term)

PurposeThe Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) was established by the Lagos Treaty on 28 May 1975, which was revised in 1993. The aims of ECOWAS are to promote cooperation and integration, leading to the establishment of an economic union in West Africa in order to raise the living standards of its peoples, and to maintain and enhance economic stability, foster relations among Member States and contribute to the progress and development of the African continent.

The ECOWAS vision, known as Vision 2020, is: “To create a borderless, peaceful, prosperous and cohesive region, built on good governance and where people have the capacity to access and harness its enormous resources through the creation of opportunities for sustainable development and environmental preservation”.

StructureECOWAS is governed by its Authority of Heads of State and Government. The Authority Chairperson is usually elected for a one-year term. The Authority is assisted by the Council of Ministers, which is composed of ministers in charge of regional integration and finance. The Council of Ministers is assisted by Specialised Ministerial Committees and the Administration

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and Finance Committee. The Auditor-General of ECOWAS institutions also reports directly to the Council of Ministers. Ministers and officers of the Authority Chairperson’s Member State serve as the Chairpersons of the Council of Ministers, Ministerial Committees and the Technical Committees.

ECOWAS institutions are the:• ECOWAS Commission (Secretariat until 2006), which carries out all executive functions• ECOWAS Community Court of Justice, which interprets the ECOWAS Treaty and

adjudicates on matters arising out of obligations under ECOWAS laws• ECOWAS Community Parliament, which represents all the peoples of West Africa• ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development (EBID) • West African Health Organisation (WAHO)• Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering and Terrorism Financing in

West Africa (GIABA).

ECOWAS specialised agencies are the:• West African Monetary Agency (WAMA)• Regional Agency for Agriculture and Food (RAAF)• ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority (ERERA)• ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy Efficiency (ECREEE)• West African Power Pool (WAPP)• ECOWAS Brown Card• ECOWAS Gender Development Centre (EGDC)• ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre (EYSDC)• West African Monetary Institute (WAMI)• ECOWAS infrastructure Projects Preparation and Development Unit (PPDU)• ECOWAS Water Resources Coordination Centre.

The ECOWAS structure also includes national offices within each Member State’s ministry in charge of ECOWAS affairs; Special Representative offices in Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Liberia and Mali; and Permanent Representative offices in Burkina Faso, Côte d’Ivoire and Togo. Establishing offices in the remaining Member States is in progress. ECOWAS also has a Permanent Representative to the United Nations and liaison offices to the AU and European Union.

MeetingsThe Authority of Heads of State and Government usually meets at least once a year. It may also meet in extraordinary session.

Members (15)

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Côte d’Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

162 Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD)IGAD SecretariatAvenue Georges ClemenceauB.P. 2653 DjiboutiRepublic of Djibouti

Tel: +253 2135 4050Fax: +253 2135 6994Email: igad@igad.intWebsite: www.igad.int

Facebook: www.facebook.com/igadsecretariatTwitter: @igadsecretariat

Chairperson: Abdalla Hamdok, Sudan (elected in November 2019)Executive Secretary: Workneh Gebeyehu, Ethiopia (appointed in 2019)

PurposeThe Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) was established in 1996 to represent the interests of states in the Horn of Africa region. Under article 7 of the Agreement establishing IGAD, its aims and objectives include promoting joint development strategies; harmonising Member States’ policies; achieving regional food security; initiating sustainable development of natural resources; promoting peace and stability in the sub-region; and mobilising resources for the implementation of programmes within the framework of regional cooperation.

Evolution

IGAD is the successor to the Intergovernmental Authority on Drought and Development (IGADD), which was founded in 1986 to address the recurring droughts and other natural disasters that had caused severe hardship in the region. The revitalised Authority’s mandate increased to include promoting greater regional political and economic cooperation as well as addressing peace and security issues. It also implemented a new organisational structure. Within this new structure, IGAD now has four divisions: Agriculture and Environment; Peace and Security; Trade and Economic Cooperation; and Health and Social Development.

StructureThe IGAD Assembly of Heads of State and Government is the organisation’s supreme policy-making organ, determining its objectives, guidelines and programmes. IGAD’s structure also includes the Council of Ministers, which formulates policy and approves the work programme and the Secretariat’s annual budget, and the Committee of Ambassadors, which facilitates the Council’s work and guides the Executive Secretary (head of the Secretariat). The Council is composed of the ministers of foreign affairs and one other minister designated by each Member State. The Executive Secretary is appointed by the Assembly to run the organisation’s day-to-day affairs.

Other bodies include the: • Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU–IGAD), which came into existence after its establishing

Protocol came into force in November 2007, and is composed of IGAD Member States’ speakers of parliament

• IGAD Business Forum (IBF), which was first established in 2002 and re-launched in 2010, and is set to play a leading role in the harmonisation of trade, customs and transport facilitation policies; creation of an enabling environment for foreign, cross-border and domestic trade investment; and promotion of free movement of goods and services in the IGAD region

• IGAD Partners Forum (IPF), which was formed in January 1997 to replace and formalise IGAD’s relationships with the ‘Friends of IGAD’, a group of partners working closely with the Secretariat.

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IGAD bodies also include the Conflict Early Warning and Response Mechanism, IGAD Climate Prediction and Application Centre, IGAD Centre for Pastoral Areas and Livestock Development, IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability Initiative (IDDRSI), IGAD Sheikh Technical Veterinary School and the IGAD Centre of Excellence in Preventing and Countering Terrorism. In addition, IGAD has specialised offices for Somalia and South Sudan that are dedicated to restoring stability in those two Member States.

MeetingsThe Assembly Summit is scheduled to meet at least once a year and may hold extraordinary meetings at the request of any of its members. Summit decisions are reached by consensus. The Summit discusses business submitted to it by the Council (which usually meets twice each year) and any other matter that may have a bearing on IGAD. The Committee of Ambassadors convenes as often as the need arises. The 38th Extraordinary Summit was held on 20 December 2020 in Djibouti.

Members (8)

Djibouti

Eritrea

Ethiopia

Kenya

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Uganda

Southern African Development Community (SADC)SADC HousePlot No 54385Central Business DistrictPrivate Bag 0095GaboroneBotswana

Tel: +267 395 1863Fax: +267 397 2848Email: registry@sadc.intWebsite: www.sadc.intFacebook: www.facebook.com/sadc.int

Chairperson: Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Mozambique (elected by the SADC Assembly in August 2020 for a one-year term)

Executive Secretary: Stergomena Lawrence Tax, Tanzania (appointed by the SADC Assembly in August 2013)

PurposeThe Southern African Development Community (SADC) was formed on 17 August 1992. Its main objectives are to achieve economic development, peace and security, and poverty alleviation; improve the standard of living for the people of the region; and increase regional integration, built on democratic principles and equitable and sustainable development.

EvolutionSADC is the successor to the Southern African Development Co-ordination Conference (SADCC), which was established in 1980 in Lusaka, Zambia. The transformation of SADCC into SADC in 1992 redefined the basis of cooperation among Member States, from a loose association into a legally binding arrangement, and formalised the intention to spearhead the economic integration of the Southern Africa region.

164 StructureSADC organs include the: • Summit of Heads of State or Government, which is the highest decision-making organ in

SADC and responsible for the overall policy direction and control of functions of SADC• Heads of State-level Summit Troika Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation,

which is responsible for policy direction on regional peace and security issues between summits

• Council of Ministers, which is responsible for the implementation of summit policy decisions

• Secretariat, which is the executive body for SADC and headed by the Executive Secretary• Standing Committee of Officials, which offers technical advice to the Council of Ministers• SADC National Committees (SNCs), which deal with thematic issues.

MeetingsThe Summit usually meets at least once a year and may hold extraordinary meetings at the request of any of its members. The office of Chairperson is held for one year in rotation among the Member States. The Summit discusses business submitted to it by the Council (which usually meets twice each year) and any other matters that may have a bearing on SADC.

Members (16)

Angola

Botswana

Comoros

DR Congo

Eswatini

Lesotho

Madagascar

Malawi

Mauritius

Mozambique

Namibia

Seychelles

South Africa

Tanzania

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Regional Mechanisms

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR)Boulevard du Japon, No 38 B.P. 7076BujumburaBurundi

Tel: +257 2 225 6824/5/7/9Fax: +257 2 225 6828Email: secretariat@icglr.org Website: www.icglr.orgTwitter: @_icglr

Chairperson: João Lourenço, Angola (since November 2020)Executive Secretary: João Samuel Caholo, Angola (appointed in November 2020 by the ICGLR

Heads of State and Government for a four-year term)

The International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) is an inter-governmental organisation of the countries in the region. It was initiated in 2003 to address the regional dimension to conflicts affecting the Great Lakes and give momentum to efforts to promote sustainable peace and development. The ICGLR Executive Secretariat was established in May 2007.

The AU is an ICGLR formal partner. In September 2017, the Chairperson of the AUC appointed a new Special Representative for the Great Lakes Region and Head of the AU Liaison Office in Burundi (Basile Ikouebe, Congo Republic). Through its Special Representative, the AUC provides technical, diplomatic and financial support to the ICGLR. It also works in cooperation with the ICGLR in the framework of its activities.

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The Heads of State and Government Summit is the ICGLR’s supreme organ and is chaired by a member country’s Head of State or Government usually for two-year terms in rotation. The Summit is held every two years, and extraordinary sessions may be convened at the request of a Member State and with the consent of the majority of Member States present and voting. ICGLR’s executive organ comprises Member States’ foreign affairs ministers. The executive organ usually meets in ordinary session twice a year, and may meet in extraordinary session on the request of a Member State and with the consent of a majority of the 12 Member States. The main divisions of the ICGLR are: Peace and Security; Democracy and Good Governance; Economic Development and Regional Integration; and Humanitarian and Social Issues. The eighth Ordinary Summit of Heads of State and Government was held by videoconference in November 2020.

Members (12)

Angola

Burundi

Central African Republic

Congo Republic

DR Congo

Kenya

Rwanda

South Sudan

Sudan

Tanzania

Uganda

Zambia

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat Westwood Park RoadPO Box 1444-00502 Karen, Nairobi Kenya

Tel: +254 (0) 20 388 4720 Fax: +254 (0) 20 388 4633 Email: easfcom@easbrig.orgWebsite: www.easfcom.org

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EASF4Peace/Twitter: @EASF4Peace

Director: Getachew Shiferaw Feyisa, Ethiopia (appointed in May 2020 for a three-year term)

The Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) Secretariat, previously known as the Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination Mechanism (EASFCOM), is the Secretariat for the EASF’s policy organs, structures and activities. The EASF Secretariat was established in 2007 to coordinate EASF activities in consultation with relevant Member State authorities and the AU.

The EASF policy organs are the Assembly of Eastern Africa Heads of State and Government, Eastern Africa Council of Ministers of Defence and Security, and the Eastern Africa Committee of Chiefs of Defence Staff (EACDS).

EASF is one of the five forces that make up the African Standby Force (ASF). See the Peace and Security Council chapter for more information about the ASF.

Members (10)

Burundi

Comoros

Djibouti

Ethiopia

Kenya

Rwanda

Seychelles

Somalia

Sudan

Uganda

166 North African Regional Capability (NARC)TripoliLibya

Tel: +218 213 407 228 Fax: +218 213 407 229Email: narc2010@hotmail.com

The North African Regional Capability (NARC) was established in 2007/08 as a regional coordination mechanism for the North African Standby Force. NARC coordinates development and operationalisation of the Force’s capabilities.

NARC is one of the five forces that make up the African Standby Force (ASF). See the Peace and Security Council chapter for more information about the ASF.

Members (5)

Algeria

Egypt

Libya

Sahrawi Republic

Tunisia

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

SPECIALISED AGENCIES AND OTHER BODIES

168 SPECIALISED AND TECHNICAL AGENCIES, TREATY BODIES AND OTHER INSTITUTIONS

Trade and Economic Bodies

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) SecretariatAccra, GhanaTwitter: @AfCFTA

Secretary-General: Wamkele Mene, South Africa (appointed by the AU Assembly in February 2020 for a four-year term; sworn in on 19 March 2020)

The AfCFTA Secretariat is the administrative organ of the African Union (AU) charged with the coordination and implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement, which is an Agenda 2063 flagship initiative that aims to significantly accelerate growth of intra-African trade, use trade more effectively as an engine of growth and sustainable development, and strengthen Africa’s common voice and policy space in global trade negotiations. Trading under the Agreement began on 1 January 2021. (See the Introduction section for more information about the AfCFTA.)

The Secretariat is a functionally autonomous institutional body within the African Union system with an independent legal personality. The Secretary-General was appointed in early 2020 (Assembly/AU/Dec.751(XXXIII)), and the Secretariat building was officially opened in Accra, Ghana, in August 2020.

The Secretariat:• Coordinates, facilitates and supports the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement,

its Protocols and Annexes• Undertakes strategic planning and management of the AfCFTA implementation • Facilitates the establishment, monitoring and evaluation of mechanisms for follow-up

on the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement and submits annual reports on its implementation to the Council of Ministers

• Monitors and evaluates the implementation process and other duties assigned to it by the Committee of Senior Trade Officials, Council of Ministers for Trade of the State Parties, and the AU Assembly.

Through its activities, the Secretariat aims to:• Lead the establishment of a single continental market for goods and services, with free

movement of business people and investments, and thus pave the way for accelerating the establishment of the Customs Union

• Expand intra-African trade through better harmonisation and coordination of trade liberalisation and facilitation instruments across the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and across Africa in general

• Enhance competitiveness at African industry and enterprise levels through exploitation of opportunities for scale production, continental market access and better reallocation of resources.

StructureThe work of the Secretariat and implementation of decisions related to the AfCFTA are made within an institutional framework consisting of the Assembly, the Council of Ministers for Trade of the State Parties, and the Committee of Senior Trade Officials.

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AssemblyThe Assembly has exclusive authority to adopt interpretations of the AfCFTA Agreement on the recommendation of the Council of Ministers. It provides oversight of and guidance on the AfCFTA. The decision to adopt an interpretation is taken by consensus.

Council of MinistersThe Council of Ministers comprises ministers for trade or such other ministers, authorities or officials duly designated by the State Parties. It takes decisions on all matters under the AfCFTA Agreement and reports to the Assembly through the Executive Council of the AU. The AfCFTA Council of Ministers is separate from the AU Ministers of Trade (AMOT) group.

The Council of Ministers meets twice a year in ordinary sessions and may meet as and when necessary in extraordinary sessions. Decisions taken by the Council of Ministers while acting within its mandate are binding on State Parties. Decisions that have legal, structural or financial implications shall be binding on State Parties upon their adoption by the Assembly. The State Parties take such measures as are necessary to implement the decisions of the Council of Ministers.

Committee of Senior Trade Officials The Committee of Senior Trade Officials comprises permanent or principal secretaries or other officials designated by State Parties. It is responsible for the development of programmes and action plans for the implementation of the AfCFTA Agreement. The Committee:• Monitors, constantly reviews and ensures proper functioning and development of the

AfCFTA in accordance with the provisions of the Agreement• Subject to directions given by the Council of Ministers, shall meet at least twice a year

and shall operate in accordance with the rules of procedures as adopted by the Council of Ministers

• Submits its report, which may include recommendations, to the Council of Ministers following its meetings

• Promotes the harmonisation of appropriate policies, considers reports and activities of the Secretariat, and takes appropriate actions. It can also make regulations, issue directives and make recommendations

• Can establish sub-committees or working groups to oversee the implementation of the Agreement and may request a technical committee to investigate any particular matter.

The Protocols of the AfCFTA Agreement establish various technical committees to assist with the implementation of the Agreement. They include the Trade in Goods Committee and the Trade in Services Committee.

AU Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC)Karama Holding Building2nd Floor, Malawi PassageBerger du Lac, Tunis Tunisia

Website: https://au.int/ea/statistics/statafricTwitter: @statafricFacebook: www.facebook.com/statafric.au.1

PurposeThe main purpose of the AU Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) is to lead in the provision and promotion of quality statistics, statistical information and good practice in support of the African integration agenda, Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Agenda 2030. STATAFRIC’s vision is to be the centre of reference for harmonised, quality and timely statistics on Africa. Its values include professional independence, as defined in article 3 of the African Charter on Statistics. Specifically, the Institute aims to:• Implement the revised Strategy for the Harmonisation of Statistics in Africa (SHaSA 2)• Coordinate and regulate the African Statistical System (AfSS)

170 • Provide the statistical information needed to design, implement, monitor and evaluate African policies

• Develop and promote standards, methods and procedures that allow the cost-effective production and dissemination of comparable and reliable statistics throughout the AU and beyond

• Steer the AfSS, develop standards and procedures, strengthen cooperation among partners, build capacity and ensure it takes a leading role in official statistics worldwide.

EvolutionEstablishment of the Institute was approved by the AU Assembly at its January 2013 Summit (Assembly/AU/462(XX)). In March 2015, following preparation work by the African Union Commission (AUC), the Conference of Ministers of Economy and Finance gave the AUC the mandate for the Institute’s activities to begin in late 2016. During the 30th AU Summit, held in January 2018, the AUC and the Government of Tunisia signed the Host Agreement. The structure of STATAFRIC was considered and approved by AU decision-making organs in July 2019. The activities were officially launched on 18 November 2019 during the celebration of African Statistics Day.

StructureSTATAFRIC is a specialised technical agency of the AUC under the Department of Economic Affairs (from 2021, the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) under the new AUC structure).

African Training Centre on Statistics

PurposeThe purpose of the African Training Centre on Statistics (also known as PANASTAT or PANSTAT) will be to strengthen the capability of AU Member States’ official statisticians to collect, analyse and disseminate timely and high-quality statistics for economic and social development planning. The Centre, to be based in Côte d’Ivoire, has the vision of being the centre of reference for statistical training in Africa.

The Centre’s mandate, mission and role will be based on coordination and harmonisation of statistical training in Africa, including to be an accrediting body for schools and training centres in collaboration with the Association of African Statisticians. The Centre will undertake regular evaluations of training centres and schools in order to adapt training programmes to the needs and requirements of the labour market. The Centre will also be the Secretariat of the African Group on Statistical Training (AGROST).

Evolution Creation of an African statistical training centre was endorsed by the AU Assembly in July 2012 (Assembly/AU/Dec.424(XIX)). The structure of the Training Centre was considered and approved by AU decision-making organs in July 2019.

The Centre will be a specialised technical agency of the AUC under the Department of Economic Affairs (from 2021, the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) under the new AUC structure).

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Education, Human Resources, Science and Technology Bodies

African Union/International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA)01 B.P. 1318Ouagadougou 01Burkina FasoTel: +226 25 37 64 96Fax: +226 50 37 64 98

Email: au-cieffa@africa-union.org Website: http://cieffa.orgTwitter: @AU_CIEFFAFacebook: www.facebook.com/AUCIEFFA

Coordinator: Rita Bissoonauth (since November 2014)

PurposeAU/CIEFFA’s mission is to ensure that African woman are fully empowered in all spheres, with equal social, political and economic rights and opportunities, and are able to fight against all forms of gender-based discrimination and inequality.

The Centre works closely with AU Member States and governments, civil society organisations, traditional and religious leaders, development partners and youth to achieve the objectives of the Continental Education Strategy for Africa 2016–25 (CESA 16–25) and Agenda 2063 with regards to girls’ and women’s education in Africa.

AU/CIEFFA’s third strategic plan (2021–25) comprises the following four strategic axes: gender-responsive education policies; curriculum reform and teacher education; science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics (STEAM) and skills development; and education in emergency and humanitarian contexts.

EvolutionThe Centre was originally established under the aegis of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). It became a specialised institution of the AU following AU Assembly approval, in principle, in July 2004 (Assembly/AU/Dec.44(III)), and its Statutes were adopted by the Assembly in February 2019 (Assembly/AU/Dec.735(XXXII)).

StructureAs a specialised technical institution of the AU, the Centre reported to the AUC Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (from 2021, the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) under the new AUC structure).

Fund for African Women (FAW)The Fund for African Women (FAW) was established to provide grants to AU Member States, the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) and civil society organisations to advance the AU’s gender agenda. FAW is primarily financed by Member States. Projects are selected following a competitive review by an independent steering committee. FAW is active in all AU regions and has helped support advancement of women’s rights and their economic and social empowerment, and increased awareness about gender equality and women’s empowerment. FAW supports small and community-based women’s organisations in Africa. Its five main goals are to:• Mobilise financial resources to support development programmes and projects for women• Support women’s initiatives to fight poverty, close the gender gap and halt marginalisation

of women• Share experiences and best practices on economic, political and social empowerment

of women

172 • Facilitate the dissemination of information on activities led by African women• Strengthen the capacities of African women in leadership, management and

entrepreneurship.

FAW was launched by the AU Assembly in 2010 (see Assembly/AU/Dec.277(XIV) of February 2010, EX.CL/Dec.539(XVI) of January 2010, and article 11 of the Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA), adopted by the Assembly in July 2004, which called for the establishment of FAW).

The Fund has been a mechanism for the implementation and mobilisation of resources for programmes and projects dedicated to the African Women’s Decade (AWD) 2010–20, supporting a minimum of 53 projects per theme. The 10 annual themes selected for financial support were:• 2011: Women’s Health, Maternal Mortality and HIV/AIDS• 2012: Agriculture, Food Security and Environment• 2013: Fighting Poverty and Promoting Economic Empowerment of Women

and Entrepreneurship• 2014: Environment and Climate Change• 2015: Education, Science and Technology• 2016: Finance and Gender Budgets• 2017: Mentoring Youth (men and women) to be champions of Gender Equality

and Women’s Empowerment• 2018: Peace and Security and Violence Against Women• 2019: Women in Decision-Making Positions• 2020: Governance and Legal Protection.

In line with a decision by the Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment in May 2018 to align FAW with Agenda 2063 and to accelerate FAW’s transformation into a trust fund, a study was commissioned by the AUC Directorate of Women, Gender and Development (WGDD) to explore modalities and propose interim transitional measures as well as a trust fund management structure.

In February 2020, following the end of the AWD in 2020, AU Heads of State and Government adopted the new Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion 2020–30 (Assembly/AU/Dec.793(XXXIII)).

African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC)Plot 114 Yakubu Gowon Crescent Asokoro, Abuja FCTAbuja Nigeria

Tel: +234 (0) 9291 3271 or +234 (0) 8065 891 643

Email: austrc@africa-union.org Website: http://austrc.org

Executive Director: Ahmed Hamdy, Egypt

PurposeThe mandate of the AU Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC) is to implement the AU Science, Technology and Innovation (STI) Strategy for Africa (STISA 2024) in coordination with relevant stakeholders; promote intra-African research activities; identify new and comparative priority areas for research; and popularise the scientific and technological research culture in Africa.

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The AU-STRC’s programmes and activities include: STISA 2024 implementation; India-Africa Research Grant Scheme; women’s participation in science programme; Africa’s STI challenges for climate change; research translation From Bench to Bedside in Africa; AU Green Innovation Framework; Africa health and medical sciences capacity building; Africa engineering science capacity building; innovation capacity building; capacity building workshop for AU Member States on Accessing Green Climate Fund (GCF); capacity building workshop on Mitigating the Impact of Natural Hazards in Africa; African Union Network of Sciences (AUNS); African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC); Federation of African Engineering Organisations (FAEO); African Environmental Society (AES); Science, Technology and Innovation for Post-Conflict Recovery in Africa: Integrating Young Arms to their Societies; and the STI Business Incubator Project.

EvolutionThe AU-STRC developed from the Commission for Technical Co-operation in Africa South of the Sahara, also known as CCTA, which was established in 1950 by the European colonial powers. The CCTA was transformed into the STRC in 1964. It is based in Abuja, Nigeria.

StructureThe AU-STRC is a specialised technical institution of the AU that has been under the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (from 2021, the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) under the new AUC structure).

African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) AU-STRC SecretariatPlot 114 Yakubu Gowon Crescent Asokoro, Abuja FCTAbuja, Nigeria

Tel: +234 (0) 9291 3271 or +234 (0) 806 589 1643

Email: austrc@africa-union.org Website: www.asric.africa

Chairperson: Ratemo Michieka, KenyaExecutive Director: Ahmed Hamdy, Egypt

PurposeThe mandate of the African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) is to address and promote scientific research and innovation in order to solve the challenges of Africa’s socio-economic development. Its functions include: mobilising African research excellence to advance the African development agenda; building and sustaining a continental scientific, research and innovation policy nexus; mobilising resources to support scientific research and innovation activities and programmes in accordance with the AU policy; promoting dialogue and providing a voice to the scientific community that expresses continental excellence; advocating for knowledge exchange and technology acquisition; and linking the scientific community.

ASRIC’s ongoing programmes and activities include the: ASRIC Movement to Respond to COVID-19; Water for All Project; ASRIC Scholarship Programme; ASRIC Research Grant Scheme; ASRIC Capacity Building Programme; and ASRIC scientific journals.

EvolutionThe ASRIC was established by AU Executive Council decision 747 of January 2013 (EX.CL/DEC.747 (XXII)) and launched in 2018.

174 StructureASRIC is a specialised technical advisory body to the AU Commission. The Secretariat for ASRIC is the AU Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC), which has been under the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (from 2021, the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) under the new AUC structure).

African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI)B.P. 549MalaboEquatorial Guinea

Tel/WhatsApp: +240 555 909749 Email: vrohb@africa-union.org

or aosti@africa-union.org

Twitter: @AOSTI_AfriUnion

Acting Executive Secretary: Bi Irie Vroh, Côte d’Ivoire (appointed by the AUC)

PurposeThe purpose of the African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI) is to stimulate and promote the use of science, technology and innovation (STI) in supporting evidence-based decision-making for sustainable development in Africa. AOSTI is mandated to champion evidence-based policy-making in Africa by serving as the repository for STI data and statistics and as a source of policy analysis.

AOSTI’s role also includes: monitoring and evaluating the AU’s STI policy implementation; supporting Member States to manage and use STI statistical information in accordance with the African Charter on Statistics; assisting Member States to map their STI capabilities to address economic, social, environmental and other development challenges; strengthening national capacities for STI policy formulation, evaluation and review, as well as technology foresight and prospecting; providing Member State decision-makers with up-to-date information on global scientific and technological trends; and promoting and strengthening regional and international cooperation in its areas of competence.

EvolutionAOSTI was established through AU Assembly decision 235(xii) of February 2009. In July 2010, the AUC and the Government of Equatorial Guinea signed a hosting agreement for the observatory to be headquartered in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. Assembly decision 452(XX) of January 2013 formally created AOSTI. In February 2020, the AU Assembly adopted the staffing structure for AOSTI (see Assembly/AU/Dec.750(XXXIII) and EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI)).

StructureAOSTI is a specialised technical office of the African Union operating under the AUC Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (from 2021, the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) under the new AUC structure).

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Pan African University (PAU)Pan African University RectorateBastosYaoundé Cameroon

Email: paurectorate@africa-union.orgWebsite: https://pau-au.africaFacebook: www.facebook.com/pauafricaTwitter: @pau_africaunion

Council President: Pierre Dominique Nzinzi, Gabon (elected by the Executive Council and appointed by the AU Assembly in January 2018 for a three-year term, see Assembly/AU/Dec.675(XXX); extended by the Executive Council in February 2021 until mid-2021, see EX.CL/Dec.1124(XXXVIII))

Council Vice-President: Nthabiseng Audrey Ogude (elected by the Executive Council; appointed by the AU Assembly in July 2018 for a three-year term, see Assembly/AU/Dec.703(XXXI))

Acting Rector: Belay Kassa, Ethiopia

PurposeThe aim of the Pan African University (PAU) is to:• Establish continental institutions that promote high-quality training, research and innovation

within Africa• Ensure a steady nurturing of new ideas and a continuous injection of highly skilled human

resources to meet the developmental needs of the continent.

The University is a network of post-graduate (master’s and doctoral) teaching and research institutions within selected high-quality universities in the five geographic regions of Africa. It promotes student mobility in Africa and facilitates intra-regional networking for academic researchers. Its guiding principles include academic freedom, autonomy and accountability, quality assurance, promotion of African integration through the mobility of students, academic and administrative staff, and the development of collaborative research linked to the challenges facing the African continent. The University comprises the following five thematic institutes:• Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and Innovation (PAUSTI), hosted by the

Jomo Kenyatta University of Agriculture and Technology in Kenya (Eastern Africa)• Institute for Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and Agriculture) (PAULESI),

hosted by the University of Ibadan in Nigeria (Western Africa)• Institute for Governance, Humanities and Social Sciences (PAUGHSS), hosted by the

University of Yaoundé II in Cameroon (Central Africa)• Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change) (PAUWES), hosted

by the University of Tlemcen in Algeria (Northern Africa)• Institute for Space Sciences (PAUSS), to be hosted by the Cape Peninsula University

of Technology in South Africa (Southern Africa).

PAU students are admitted on a competitive basis from all African countries, with no more than 20 percent from the host country and with gender balance taken into consideration. Full scholarships are offered and include an agreement with the AUC that recipients will work in Africa upon the completion of their studies for at least the same length of time as their scholarship. Students are awarded joint degrees of PAU and the host universities. Between 2012 and 2021, 2279 students had been admitted and a total of 1237 students had graduated from PAU.

EvolutionIn July 2010, the AU Assembly decided to establish the Pan African University (Assembly/AU/Dec.290(XV)). This followed the start of the Second Decade of Education for Africa 2006–15 (Assembly/AU/Dec.92(VI)) and the Consolidated Plan of Action for Science and Technology in Africa 2008–13 (Assembly/AU/Decl.5(VIII)), as well as the endorsement of PAU as an academic network of existing post-graduate and research institutions by the fourth Ordinary Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Education (COMEDAF IV) in 2009. The AU

176 Assembly approved the PAU concept in July 2011 (Assembly/AU/Dec.373(XVII)), and in January 2012 requested the AUC to operationalise PAU (Assembly/AU/Dec.391(XVIII)). The Assembly adopted the PAU Statute in January 2013 (Assembly/AU/Dec.451(XX)) and the amended Statute in January 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI)).

In January 2015, the AU Assembly designated Cameroon as the host country of the PAU Rectorate (Assembly/AU/Dec.552(XXIV)). An official relocation ceremony was held in Yaoundé, Cameroon, on 31 July 2018.

The PAU Rectorate also hosts the Pan African Virtual and e-University (PAVeU), which was established by a decision of the AU Executive Council in January 2018 (EX.CL/Dec.987(XXXII)Rev.1) to endorse operationalisation of PAVeU as the open, distance and e-learning arm of PAU.

StructureThe AU Assembly has the overall responsibility for overseeing the PAU. The AUC department working to support the PAU’s establishment and operationalisation has been the Department of Human Resources, Science and Technology (from 2021, the Department of Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) under the new AUC structure). The revised PAU Statute provides that the major PAU organs are the: • Council: the highest governing body comprising 33 members. In February 2020, the AU

Assembly decided to delegate its authority to appoint the President and Vice-President to the AU Executive Council (Assembly/AU/Dec.760(XXXIII)). All other members are appointed by the Chairperson of the AUC for three-year terms, renewable once. The Council held its inaugural meeting in June 2015

• Rectorate: headed by the PAU Rector (the PAU Chief Executive Officer), to be appointed by the Chairperson of the AUC upon recommendation of the PAU Council for a five-year term, renewable once

• Senate: in charge of academic affairs, research and innovative activities. The Senate first met in May 2017

• Directorates of Institutes: headed by institute directors appointed by the Rector in consultation with the Council and the respective host universities

• Boards of Institutes: supervise, guide and support the Directorates in the management and administration of the Institutes.

Pan African Institute for Education for Development (IPED)/African Observatory for EducationB.P. 1764Kinshasa/GombeDR Congo

PurposeThe Pan African Institute for Education for Development (IPED) is envisaged as a specialised institution of the AU charged with the responsibility to function as Africa’s Education Observatory. Its role is to promote quality, responsive and inclusive education development in Africa by ensuring a robust and functional Education Management Information System (EMIS) and sound knowledge-based planning. This is achieved by working directly with AU Member States to strengthen their national EMIS systems by building capacities to collect, analyse and report on education data. In addition, IPED is charged with the mandate of supporting and building capacities of Member States to enhance data collection using new and modern technology for effective monitoring and reporting. The institution also maintains the African Union Education Data Centre (AU-EDC), which will serve as a repository of education data to facilitate analysis and reporting by IPED.

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IPED’s programmes and activities include: training and capacity building; research and policy analysis; statistics and indicator development; and monitoring and evaluation of AU education frameworks and strategies.

EvolutionAt the second Ordinary Session of the AU Conference of Ministers of Education (COMEDAF II), held in April 2005 in Algiers, Algeria, the AUC Chairperson called for a transformation of IPED into an African Education Observatory under the auspices of the AU.

IPED reports to the AUC Director for Human Resources, Science and Technology (from 2021, the Director for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI) under the new AUC structure).

Energy and Infrastructure Bodies

African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC)Léopold Sédar Senghor International

Airport RoadB.P. 8898Dakar-YoffSenegal

Tel: +221 33 859 8800Fax: +221 33 820 7018Email: secretariat@afcac.orgWebsite: www.afcac.org

President: Gabriel Lesa, Zambia (elected by the AFCAC Plenary in December 2018) Secretary General: Tefera Mekonnen Tefera (appointed in December 2018)

PurposeThe African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) is a specialised agency of the AU on all matters of civil aviation. Its responsibilities include coordinating civil aviation matters in Africa and cooperating with the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) and all other relevant bodies involved in the promotion and sustainable development of civil aviation in Africa. AFCAC provides Member States’ civil aviation authorities with a framework for cooperation on civil aviation issues, and it promotes coordination, better use and orderly development of African air transport systems. AFCAC’s vision is to “foster a safe, secure, efficient, cost-effective, sustainable and environmentally friendly civil aviation industry in Africa”.

EvolutionAFCAC was created by the Constitutional Conference, jointly convened by the ICAO and the OAU in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in 1964. It began functioning in 1969. AFCAC’s Constitution was adopted by the OAU in 1969, and it became a specialised agency in 1978. The AU adopted revised constitutions in 2003 and 2009. The 2009 Constitution included entrusting AFCAC with the functions of executing agency for implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision (1999) on the liberalisation of air transport in Africa.

In January 2018, the AU Assembly officially launched the establishment of the Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM), within the framework of Agenda 2063 (Assembly/AU/Dec.665(XXX)). The same Assembly also adopted the Yamoussoukro Decision regulatory and institutional texts, that is, the Competition and Consumer Protection Regulations and the Regulations on the Powers, Functions and Operations of the Executing Agency, entrusted to AFCAC.

As of November 2020, 34 African countries had signed the Declaration of Solemn Commitment towards the establishment of SAATM (Assembly/AU/Decl.1(XXIV) of January 2015).

178 StructureMembership of AFCAC is open to all African states, and it is governed by a plenary meeting of all members. The AFCAC structure includes a bureau, made up of the President and five Vice-Presidents (one for each geographical region of the AU). The ICAO African Group Coordinator attends meetings of the Bureau in an ex officio capacity. The Secretariat is headed by the Secretary General. Further details can be found at www.afcac.org.

MeetingsThe AFCAC Plenary usually meets in ordinary session once every three years, and may hold extraordinary sessions. An event for the 50th anniversary of AFCAC and 20th anniversary celebration of the Yamoussoukro Decision was held in November 2019, in Dakar, Senegal.

Bureau Members

President, Southern Africa: Gabriel Lesa, ZambiaVice-President, Central Africa: Serge Florent Dzota, Congo RepublicVice-President, Eastern Africa: Fred Bamwesigye, UgandaVice-President, Northern Africa: Habib Mekki, Tunisia Vice-President, Southern Africa: Musa Magongo, EswatiniVice-President, Western Africa: Musa Nuhu, NigeriaICAO Council African Group Coordinator: Vincent Banda (ICAO Sudan)

African Airlines Association (AFRAA)AFRAA BuildingRed Cross Road South CPO Box 20116Nairobi 00200Kenya

Tel: +254 (0) 20 232 0144Fax: +254 (0) 20 600 1173Email: afraa@afraa.org; aberthe@afraa.orgWebsite: www.afraa.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/AFRAA.

AfricanAirlinesAssociationTwitter: @AfricanAirlines

President for 2021: Rui Carreira, Chief Executive Officer of TAAG-Angola Airlines (re-elected in November 2020)

Chairperson of the AFRAA Executive Council for 2021: Desire Balazire, Chief Executive Officer of Congo Airways

Secretary General: Abdérahmane Berthé (appointed in January 2018)

PurposeThe African Airlines Association (AFRAA) is a trade association of airlines from AU nations. Founded in Accra, Ghana, in 1968, and today headquartered in Nairobi, Kenya, AFRAA’s mission is to promote and serve African airlines and champion Africa’s aviation industry. The Association envisions a sustainable, interconnected and affordable air transport industry in Africa, where African airlines become key players and drivers to African economic development. AFRAA membership comprises all the major intercontinental African operators, and members represent more than 85 percent of total international traffic carried by African airlines. See the AFRAA website under ‘About Us’ for information about strategic objectives.

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EvolutionAFRAA was established under the auspices of the OAU in April 1968. In the past 50 years, AFRAA has been instrumental in developing and articulating air transport policy issues in Africa and helping to build the industry. AFRAA has also been instrumental in lobbying African governments, the African Union, the African Civil Aviation Commission and other regional and sub-regional organisations on actions to be taken to develop an efficient air transport system.

StructureAFRAA is governed by a general assembly composed of member airlines’ chief executives, presided over by the Association’s President. A 12-member executive committee exercises executive authority. The Executive Committee is elected on a sub-regional basis from among chief executives and ex officio members, with voting rights, who are members of the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Board of Governors. Members are listed on the AFRAA website under ‘About Us’. The Secretariat, headed by the Secretary General, provides administrative, coordination and research centre functions.

MeetingsThe AFRAA General Assembly meets annually. The 52nd General Assembly was held by videoconference in November 2020.

Airline members (as of February 2021) (46)

AB Aviation

Afriqiyah Airways

Air Algérie

Air Botswana

Air Burkina

Air Djibouti SAS

Air Madagascar

Air Mauritius

Air Namibia

Air Peace

Air Senegal

Air Tanzania

Air Zimbabwe

Allied Air Ltd

ASKY Airlines

Astral Aviation

Badr Airlines

Cabo Verde Airlines

Camair-Co

Ceiba Intercontinental

Congo Airways

Cronos

EgyptAir

Ethiopian Airlines

Express Air Cargo

Jubba Airways

Kenya Airways

LAM-Mozambique

Libyan Airlines

Mauritania Airlines

Nile Air

Nouvelair Tunisie

Overland Airways

Precision Air

Royal Air Maroc

RwandAir

Safarilink Aviation

Safe Air Company

South African Airways

South African Express

Sudan Airways

Syphax Airways

TAAG-Angola Airlines

Tassili Airlines

Tunis Air

Uganda National Airlines Company Ltd

180 African Telecommunications Union (ATU)CA BuildingWaiyaki WayPO Box 35282–00200NairobiKenya

Tel: +254 (0) 722 203 132Email: sg@atuuat.africaWebsite: http://atuuat.africa

Twitter: @atu_uatFacebook: www.facebook.com/atu.uat/YouTube: www.youtube.com/channel/UCphb_8Zq1adwpoTb_UxB1QQLinkedIn: African Telecomm Union

Plenipotentiary Conference Chairperson: Joe Mucheru (Cabinet Secretary, Ministry of Information, Communications and Technology, Kenya; four-year term 2018–22)

Administrative Council Chairperson: Sylvestre Mpoue, Côte d’Ivoire (one-year term ending May 2021)

Secretary-General: John Omo, Kenya (elected by the fifth ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries in August 2018 for 2019–22)

PurposeThe African Telecommunications Union (ATU) is a pan-African organisation that fosters the development of information communications technology (ICT) infrastructure in Africa. Its mission is to contribute to the creation of an inclusive information society and strong digital economies for sustainable social, economic and environmental development in Africa.

EvolutionThe Pan-African Telecommunications Union (PATU), now ATU, was founded in 1977 as a specialised agency of the OAU (now AU) in the area of telecommunications. It took its present name in 1999 and has become a partnership between public and private stakeholders in the ICT sector. Its headquarters are temporarily located in Nairobi, Kenya.

StructureThe ATU is governed by the Conference of Plenipotentiaries, which oversees the activities of the Union in line with its constitution and the Convention of the African Telecommunications Union, signed by Member States. The ATU is administered by the General Secretariat, which is composed of the Secretary-General and statutory staff. The Administrative Council is the decision-making body and meets once a year to guide the general management of the ATU. The Council is composed of 23 geographically elected Member States.

The ATU, which is affiliated to the International Telecommunication Union (ITU), has 48 Member States and 53 associate members (composed of fixed and mobile telecom operators, suppliers and manufacturers).

MeetingsThe ATU Conference of Plenipotentiaries is convened in ordinary session every four years, most recently in August 2018 in Nairobi, Kenya. The next ordinary session is scheduled to be held in 2022 in Algeria. The Conference, amongst other things, elects the Secretary-General for a four-year term and approves regional proposals to the ITU Plenipotentiary Conference, which is held every four years. The 2018 ITU Conference was held in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE).

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Member States (as of November 2020) (48)

Note1 The Administrative Council Chairperson’s role is filled by the appropriate delegated representative responsible for the

postal portfolio.

Algeria

Angola

Benin

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Congo Republic

Côte d’Ivoire

DR Congo

Djibouti

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Rwanda

São Tomé and Príncipe

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Tanzania

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Pan African Postal Union (PAPU)Plot 111, Block ZGolf Course, SekeiPO Box 6026Arusha-23000Tanzania

Tel: +255 (0) 27 254 3263Fax: +255 (0) 27 254 3265Email: sc@papu.co.tz or cop@papu.co.tzWebsite: www.upap-papu.africa

Plenipotentiary Conference Chairperson: Minette Libom Li Likeng, Cameroon, Minister of Posts and Telecommunications (four-year term from 2016)

Administrative Council Chairperson: Cosmas Chigwamba, Zimbabwe, Principal Director Ministry of Information Communication Technology and Cybersecurity (one-year term from June 2019)1

Secretary-General (CEO): Younouss Djibrine, Cameroon (elected by the Plenipotentiary Conference in July 2016 for a second four-year term; extended in 2020 for three months, renewable, until the next Plenipotentiary Conference)

PurposeThe Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) is a specialised agency of the AU charged with spearheading the development of postal services in Africa. PAPU’s core objectives include: enabling the postal sector to become an essential component of the digital economy; sensitising African leaders to prioritise the postal section in national development plans; supporting the development of a regional ‘universal service model’; and strengthening Africa’s voice in global postal dialogues.

EvolutionPAPU was established as an OAU specialised institution at the OAU Summit held in January 1980.

182 StructureThe Plenipotentiary Conference is PAPU’s supreme decision-making organ. It is composed of Member States’ ministers in charge of postal services. The Administrative Council runs PAPU’s affairs between conferences. It is composed of 25 Member States’ representatives, who are elected by the Conference for four-year terms. PAPU is administered by its executive body, the General Secretariat, which is based in Arusha, Tanzania.

MeetingsThe Plenipotentiary Conference meets in ordinary session every four years. The ninth Ordinary Session was held from 22 to 23 July 2016 in Yaoundé, Cameroon. An extraordinary session was held from 26 to 27 July 2018 in Antananarivo, Madagascar. The 10th Ordinary Session, scheduled to be held in 2020 in Victoria Falls, Zimbabwe, was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. The annual Administrative Council meeting, usually held in June, was also postponed.

Member States (45)

Algeria

Angola

Benin

Botswana

Burkina Faso

Burundi

Cameroon

Central African Republic

Chad

Comoros

Congo Republic

Côte d’Ivoire

DR Congo

Egypt

Equatorial Guinea

Eritrea

Eswatini

Ethiopia

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Kenya

Lesotho

Liberia

Libya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Morocco

Mozambique

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Somalia

South Africa

Sudan

Tanzania

Togo

Tunisia

Uganda

Zambia

Zimbabwe

African Energy Commission (AFREC) 02 Rue ChenouaB.P. 791 Hydra16035 AlgiersAlgeriaTel: +213 (0) 2345 9198 Fax: +213 (0) 2345 9200

Email: afrec@africa-union.org or abdallahr@africa-union.org

Website: https://au-afrec.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/AUAFRECTwitter: @AU_AFRECInstagram: @au_afrec/

Executive Director: Rashid Ali Abdallah, Sudan (appointed in July 2018)

PurposeThe African Energy Commission (AFREC) is mandated to assist Member States on sub-regional, regional and continental levels to: develop energy policies, strategies, research and plans based on development priorities, and recommend their implementation; design, create and update an energy continental database and facilitate rapid dissemination and exchange of information; develop trade and transit of energy goods and services; and mobilise financial support and capacity building for the energy sector.

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EvolutionAFREC was established by OAU decision 167(XXXVII) of July 2001, which established the Convention of the Commission. The Convention entered into force on 13 December 2006 and was officially launched in February 2008. As of November 2020, 35 Member States had ratified the Convention (see https://au.int/en/treaties).

StructureAFREC is a specialised technical energy agency under the AUC Department of Infrastructure and Energy. The Convention of the Commission provides that the organs of AFREC shall be: the Conference of ministers or authorities responsible for energy as the highest authority, which is the Specialised Technical Committee on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism (STC-TTIIET); an executive board; the Secretariat; and a technical advisory body.

The Board of Directors comprises 15 senior energy experts representing Member States, elected on the basis of rotating geographical representation and serving two-year terms, and a senior energy expert representing the AUC. The Board may also include an ex officio representative from each of the following organisations: Regional Economic Communities (RECs); Association of Power Utility for Africa (APUA); African Development Bank (AfDB); and the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA). The Executive Director shall serve as Secretary to the Board.

The Technical Advisory Body comprises representatives of the RECs and AU/UNECA/AfDB/UN agencies operating in the energy sector, as well as relevant regional and sub-regional entities dealing with energy as the World Energy Council (WEC).

AFREC fulfils its mandate through five main pillars/thematic areas that form part of its new strategy, as approved by the STC-TTIIET in April 2019: the Africa Energy Information System (AEIS); Bioenergy; Africa Energy Efficiency; Oil and Gas; and the Energy Transition Programme.

African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE)Unit B2003, Corobay Corner169 Corobay AvenueWaterkloof Glen, 0010PretoriaSouth Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 87 096 0175Website: www.afcone.org

Chairperson: Adv Doc Mashabane, South AfricaExecutive Secretary: Messaoud Baaliouamer, Algeria

PurposeAFCONE works to promote and enhance the peaceful application of nuclear science and technology for socio-economic development, and to foster regional and international cooperation in peaceful applications as well as nuclear disarmament and non-proliferation.

Evolution

AFCONE was established in line with article 12 of the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba, 1996) as a mechanism to ensure States Parties’ compliance with their treaty obligations. The Treaty entered into force in July 2009. The first Conference of States Parties, held in 2010, elected the first AFCONE.

184 The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty prohibits the research, development, manufacture, stockpiling, acquisition, testing, possession, control or stationing of nuclear weapons, as well as the dumping of radioactive waste. As of November 2020, 42 Member States had ratified the Treaty (see https://au.int/en/treaties for the full list).

StructureAFCONE, as the African Nuclear-Weapon-Free-Zone Treaty body, is the AU specialised agency for nuclear activities on the continent.

AFCONE comprises 12 States Parties that serve for three-year terms and report to the Conference of States Parties. Each of these 12 States Parties is represented by a commissioner with experience in the areas of nuclear science and technology, diplomacy and security. The 12 States Parties are elected by the Conference of States Parties with due regard to equitable regional representation and national development in nuclear science and technology. AFCONE is served by a secretariat based in Pretoria, South Africa, and headed by an executive secretary.

MeetingsAFCONE usually meets in annual ordinary sessions, the Bureau at least two times a year, and the Conference of States Parties at least once every two years. The fourth Conference was held in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, in March 2018. The fifth Conference, planned to be held in Pretoria in 2020, was rescheduled for July 2021.

AFCONE presents a report to the AU Peace and Security Council (PSC) in April each year on the implementation of the Pelindaba Treaty provisions.

AFCONE members (12)

Elected at the first Extraordinary Session of the Conference of States Parties in June 2018.

Algeria

Chad

Ghana

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Namibia

Niger

Nigeria

South Africa

Zimbabwe

(Vacant)

African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC)The main objectives of the African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) will be to support AU Member States and their national and regional organisations to promote the transformative role of mineral resources in the development of the continent, and to ensure that Africa’s interests and concerns in the sector are articulated and internalised throughout the continent for the benefit and prosperity of all. In addition, AMDC will support the AUC Department of Trade and Industry (from 2021, the Department of Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM) under the new AUC structure) in coordinating the domestication and implementation of the Africa Mining Vision (AMV), which was welcomed by AU Heads of State and Government in February 2009. The Centre’s Statute was adopted by the AU Assembly in January 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI)). In July 2018, the Assembly decided that the Centre would be hosted by Guinea (Assembly/AU/Dec.697(XXXI)). As of November 2020, two Member States, Guinea and Zambia, had ratified the Statute.

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Rural Economy and Agriculture Bodies

African Union–Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU–IBAR)Kenindia Business Park, Museum HillWestlands RoadPO Box 30786-00100Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 (0) 20 367 4000 or 367 4212 Fax: +254 (0) 20 367 4341 or 367 4342 Email: ibar.office@au-ibar.orgWebsite: www.au-ibar.org

Director: Ahmed Abdou Ali El-Sawalhy, Egypt

PurposeThe mandate of the AU–Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU–IBAR) is to support and coordinate the sustainable development and use of animal resources (livestock, fisheries and wildlife) to enhance nutrition and food security and contribute to the wellbeing and prosperity of people in AU Member States. AU–IBAR also supports, amongst other things, the formulation, consensus building and promotion of Common African Positions within the global animal resources arena.

EvolutionAU–IBAR was originally established as the Inter-African Bureau of Epizootic Diseases (IBED) in 1951 to coordinate the study and control of rinderpest (also known as cattle plague), which was declared eradicated in 2011. IBED became the Inter-African Bureau for Animal Health (IBAH) in 1956, which in 1965 became a regional technical office of the OAU. In 1971, the OAU Council of Ministers agreed to the organisation being renamed IBAR and for its mandate to be expanded to include other animal resources issues. In 2003, IBAR was affiliated to the AUC Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) and became AU–IBAR. Over the decades, the functions of AU-IBAR have progressively expanded from an initial focus on one disease to its current role in addressing a broad spectrum of activities, including animal health, animal production, ecosystems management, fisheries and aquaculture, food safety, apiculture and the trade and marketing of animals and animal products.

StructureAU–IBAR is a specialised technical office of the AUC. It is headed by a director who reports directly to the Commission through DREA (from 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)). In 2020, there were 18 regular and 24 fixed-term staff.

The approved structure also provides for a steering committee to guide AU-IBAR. The Committee comprises representatives of Member States; the AUC; AU Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU–STRC); Regional Economic Communities (RECs); independent technical experts and international technical partners (the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI)). The Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (AU–PANVAC), Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (AU–PATTEC) and donor organisations participate as observers. The Steering Committee Chair is the Commissioner for Rural Economy and Agriculture (from 2021, the Commissioner for ARBE). In addition to the Steering Committee, a client group serves as a mechanism for strategic programme reviews and planning. The group is composed of ministers/permanent secretaries responsible for livestock; directors of veterinary services, animal production and fisheries; private sector operators; deans of veterinary tertiary institutions; chairpersons of veterinary statutory bodies; and women and youth networks.

186 AU–IBAR hosts the Secretariat of the International Scientific Council of Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC); the Standards and Trade Secretariat for Animal Health and Food Safety; and the Secretariat of the Specialised Technical Committee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment (STC-ARDWE) Sub-Committee on Fisheries and Aquaculture.

MeetingsPrior to 2015, African ministers responsible for animal resources were meeting every three years to approve AU–IBAR’s strategic plans and programmes. The sectoral ministers are now represented under the STC-ARDWE structure. The STC-ARDWE first met in October 2015. The fourth STC-ARDWE meeting is scheduled for 2021.

African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU–IAPSC)PO Box 4170YaoundéCameroon

Email: au-cpi@au-appo.org or KansilangaC@africa-union.org (Communications)Tel: +237 222 21 1969 or +237 694 89 9340 (Director)

or +237 675 121 754 (Communications Officer)Fax: +237 222 21 1967 or +237 650 908 950 (Finance)Website: https://auiapsc.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/cpi.iapscTwitter: @iapsc2

Director: Jean-Gerard Mezui M’Ella, Gabon

PurposeThe Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (IAPSC) is a resource and information centre for phytosanitary and plant protection activities in Africa, aimed at improving human livelihoods, food and feed security and rural economies. The Council’s role is to coordinate the exchange of information amongst African countries about plant health and to ensure an effective control system to combat organisms harmful to plants and plant products.

EvolutionIAPSC evolved from the Inter-African Phytosanitary Commission, which was created in 1956 in line with a Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) recommendation for regional plant protection organisations to be established across the globe. The Commission was based in London and became part of the Technical Cooperation Committee in Africa (TCCA) in 1960. In 1965, the Commission became a part of the Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (STRC) and its activities were extended to cover all African Member States. The Commission’s offices were transferred from London to Yaoundé, Cameroon, in 1967 following a host agreement between the OAU and the Government of Cameroon. The Commission became the Inter-African Phytosanitary Council in April 1969, fully managed by the OAU Secretariat and Member States.

StructureThe IAPSC General Assembly is the Council’s supreme organ. It is made up of AU Member State plant protection organisations and defines IAPSC’s major guidelines. The Steering Committee is composed of members of the Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The Committee’s permanent members can co-opt relevant organisations onto the Committee. IAPSC is supported by a directorate.

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MeetingsThe General Assembly usually meets every two years, while the Steering Committee meets annually.

Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD)B.P. 1783OuagadougouBurkina FasoWebsite: www.ua-safgrad.org

Tel: +226 2530 6071 or 2531 1598Fax: +226 2531 1586 or 2530 8246 Email: ElMekassA@africa-union.org

or SayahE@africa-union.org

Coordinator: Ahmed Elmekass, Egypt

PurposeSAFGRAD’s role is to lead programmes on resilience of rural livelihoods in semi-arid Africa. Its vision is to accelerate growth of agriculture by promoting productive-friendly technologies and by building institutional capacity. It focuses on agricultural research, technology transfer, marketing, enhancement of value chains, management of natural resources, engagement of non-state actors, capacity and knowledge management systems, mitigation and adaptation to climate change, combating desertification, policy development and information dissemination to rural communities.

EvolutionAfrican Heads of State and Government created the SAFGRAD office in 1977 to respond to recurrent droughts, the virtual lack of appropriate and economically feasible technologies to improve agricultural production in semi-arid agro-ecosystems, and the 1970s food security crisis. With the advent of the AU in 2002, the Executive Council gave AU-SAFGRAD the new responsibility of addressing the particular challenges facing African countries with semi-arid zones. In addition, the Executive Council requested that SAFGRAD be institutionalised as a specialised agency for food security and sustainable agriculture, to enable the AU to streamline tasks and play a key role in improving the livelihoods of rural households by accelerating the growth of agriculture. SAFGRAD was institutionalised as a specialised technical office of the AU in 2003.

In October 2010, the Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture, held in Lilongwe, Malawi, requested SAFGRAD to work on access to and management of land and water, production, productivity, technology and innovation, interaction of climate change and desertification, market opportunities, policies and institutions; and to lead formulation of programmes to improve livelihoods in semi-arid Africa. In 2014, AU Member States requested SAFGRAD to provide an effective platform for guidance, experience sharing and coordination among existing African centres of excellence on desertification. As part of the 2019–23 strategic plan, SAFGRAD focuses its interventions on the promotion of agricultural research and development to build the resilience of smallholder households, and support for interventions by facilitating policies that strengthen ecosystems for sustainable agriculture in semi-arid zones of Africa.

StructureSAFGRAD is headed by a coordinator who reports directly to the AU Commission through the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (from 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)). A multi-stakeholder steering committee provides technical oversight and guidance.

188 Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (PANVAC)PO Box 1746Debre Zeit Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 433 8001 or +251 (0) 11 437 1347

Fax: +251 (0) 11 433 8844

Email: aupanvac@africa-union.org or aupanvac@gmail.com Website: http://aupanvac.org

Director: Nick Nwankpa, Nigeria

PurposeThe role of the Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (PANVAC) is to coordinate the efforts of AU Member States in controlling and eradicating animal diseases. PANVAC’s mandate is to provide international, independent quality control of veterinary vaccines; promote the availability of safe, effective and affordable veterinary vaccines and diagnostic reagents; facilitate the development, transfer and introduction of improved or new vaccines; and strengthen Africa’s capacity in building veterinary vaccine development, production and quality assurance. The Centre put in place infrastructure for COVID-19 testing in 2020 and has been involved in COVID-19 research.

EvolutionPANVAC was first established in 1986 in two locations: Senegal and Ethiopia. The two centres were merged in 1993. In view of the importance of livestock production to the African economy, in February 1998, the OAU Council of Ministers decided to elevate PANVAC to the status of an OAU specialised agency. In December 2004, the AU Executive Council approved the structure of PANVAC as a regional technical centre under the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA).

StructurePANVAC is a specialised technical regional office of the AUC. It is headed by a director who reports directly to the Commission through DREA (from 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE)). PANVAC was designated as a World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) and Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) reference laboratory in quality control of veterinary vaccines and training.

MeetingsPANVAC usually holds a Pan-African meeting of directors of vaccine-producing laboratories every two years and a steering committee meeting in alternate years.

Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC)PO Box 200032Addis AbabaEthiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 7700Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 6467 Email: WandaG@africa-union.orgWebsite: http://pattec.au.int

Acting Coordinator: Gift Wanda

PurposePATTEC’s role is to initiate and coordinate tsetse and trypanosomiasis (T&T) eradication campaign activities. This includes creating T&T-free areas in affected countries and ensuring those areas are managed sustainably, equitably and economically.

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EvolutionPATTEC was established following the adoption of decision AHG/Dec.156(XXXVI) by African Heads of State and Government during the July 2000 OAU Summit held in Lomé, Togo. The PATTEC coordination office was established in 2002.

StructurePATTEC is a specialised technical office of the AUC. It is headed by a coordinator who reports directly to the AUC through the Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (from 2021, the Department of Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE) under the new AUC structure). PATTEC works with national and regional focal points and is supported by international organisations, research and higher learning institutions and other partners, as well as its regional and national coordination offices that are responsible for planning, coordinating, monitoring and evaluating projects and mobilising resources. PATTEC’s activities are overseen by a steering committee composed of international, regional and national experts in the tsetse, trypanosomiasis and rural development fields. PATTEC is also supported by technical advisory forums composed of representatives of relevant international and regional organisations and other stakeholders, including the International Scientific Council of Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC).

MeetingsPATTEC’s coordinators/focal points and its Steering and Mobilisation Committee usually meet annually. PATTEC also holds regular consultative meetings and training workshops. Information about the objectives and outcomes of these meetings is on the PATTEC website.

African Risk Capacity (ARC)Building 1, Sunhill Park1 Eglin RoadSunninghill 1257JohannesburgSouth Africa

Tel: +27 (0) 11 517 1535Email: info@africanriskcapacity.orgWebsite: www.africanriskcapacity.orgTwitter: @ARCapacity

ARC Agency Governing Board Acting Chairperson: Birama Sidibé, Mali (since January 2021 pending the establishment of the ARC Group Board)

Director General: Ibrahima Cheikh Diong, Senegal (appointed in June 2020 by the ARC Agency Conference of the Parties)

PurposeThe African Risk Capacity (ARC) is a pan-African mechanism designed to improve the efficiency of emergency responses to extreme weather events and natural disasters such as droughts, floods and tropical cyclones (Assembly/AU/Dec.417(XIX)). The work of ARC is undertaken by two entities: the ARC Agency, a specialised agency of the AU, established by a treaty; and its affiliated financial entity, the ARC Insurance Company Limited (ARC Ltd), an insurance company organised under the national law of Bermuda.

The ARC Agency provides the overall strategic and governance guidance of ARC; provides services and support to Member States in developing and strengthening their abilities and resources to respond to extreme weather events; prepares Member States for participation in ARC Ltd; and approves and monitors operational plans and the use of insurance payouts. ARC Ltd handles ARC’s risk pooling and risk transfer activities, including: providing index-based insurance coverage for ARC Agency Member States against extreme weather events and natural disasters; financially managing that portfolio of insurance risk; and transferring risk to the reinsurance and capital markets as required. Satellite weather surveillance software called

190 Africa RiskView, developed by the ARC Agency, is used to estimate needs and trigger index-based insurance payouts to participating countries (see the ARC website for more information).

EvolutionThe ARC was endorsed by the AU Assembly at its July 2012 Summit. The Agreement for the Establishment of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Agency (the ARC Treaty) was adopted on 23 November 2012 by a Conference of Plenipotentiaries convened by the AU Commission in collaboration with the ARC Secretariat and attended by representatives of 41 AU Member States.

The ARC Treaty fully entered into force in 2020, when the 10th instrument of ratification was deposited. As of December 2020, the Treaty had been signed by 34 AU Member States and ratified by 10 (see https://au.int/en/treaties).

StructureUnder article 14 of the ARC Treaty as amended, the Group Board oversees the ARC’s operations. The Group Board shall be composed of: five members, each with one alternate, elected by the Conference of the Parties; one member appointed by the AU Chairperson and one member appointed by AU Chairperson in consultation with the World Food Programme (WFP); the Director General of the ARC Agency and the Chief Executive Officers of the ARC subsidiaries or affiliated entities without the right to vote; the Chairpersons of the Boards or similar organs of the ARC Agency subsidiaries or affiliated entities; and up to four additional members appointed by the Conference of the Parties in recognition of funding agreements and to give effect to any arrangements entered into under article 21 of the Agreement. The Group Director General is appointed by the Conference of the Parties and leads the Secretariat, which also comprises management, technical and government outreach teams. Both the Group Board and the Secretariat report to the Conference of the Parties, which is the agency’s supreme organ and is composed of the ARC Treaty signatories.

Security Bodies

Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA)CISSA SecretariatCISSA BuildingAfrican Union ZonePO Box 3290Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 113 712 006 or +251 (0) 911 998 708

Fax: +251 (0) 113 716 154Email: info@cissaau.org Website: http://cissaau.org

Chairperson: Ahmed Rufai Abubakar, Nigeria (2019–21; usually rotates between host countries according to annual conference location)

Executive Secretary: Zainab Ali-Kotoko, Nigeria (appointed in July 2019 for five years)

PurposeCISSA is a continent-wide forum for multilateral cooperation on intelligence and security matters. Its main purpose is to assist the AU and its institutions to effectively address security challenges confronting Africa. CISSA was conceived as a mechanism to facilitate dialogue, analysis, knowledge sharing, coordination and adoption of common strategies among intelligence and security organisations in Africa. Fifty-two African states are members.

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EvolutionCISSA was established by the heads of African intelligence and security services in August 2004 in Abuja, Nigeria, and endorsed at the January 2005 AU Summit (Assembly/AU/Dec.62(IV)). The same Assembly decision provided for CISSA to communicate with the AU through the AUC’s Intelligence and Security Committee, located in the Office of the Chairperson of the Commission. In August 2015, the AUC and CISSA Chairpersons signed a memorandum of understanding to strengthen the relationship between the two entities. In 2021, the new AUC structure included a CISSA Liaison Unit in the Office of the Chairperson of the Commission.

StructureCISSA has three permanent bodies: the Conference, composed of heads of intelligence and security services who meet annually under a chairperson; Panel of Experts, composed of representatives from each CISSA Member State who prepare for conference meetings; and the Secretariat, based in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and staffed, on the principle of equitable regional representation, by officers recruited from CISSA member intelligence and security services. The Secretariat is headed by an executive secretary elected by the Conference for a five-year term.

MeetingsHeads of African intelligence and security services met at the 16th Ordinary Session held from 14 to 20 July 2019 in Abuja, Nigeria. The 17th Ordinary Session was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Members (52)

Central Africa (9)Burundi

Central African Republic

Cameroon

Chad

Congo Republic

DR Congo

Equatorial Guinea

Gabon

São Tomé and Príncipe

Eastern Africa (12)Comoros

Djibouti

Ethiopia

Kenya

Madagascar

Mauritius

Rwanda

Somalia

South Sudan

Sudan

Tanzania

Uganda

Northern Africa (6)Algeria

Egypt

Libya

Mauritania

Sahrawi Republic

Tunisia

Southern Africa (10)Angola

Botswana

Eswatini

Lesotho

Malawi

Mozambique

Namibia

South Africa

Zambia

Zimbabwe

Western Africa (15)Benin

Burkina Faso

Cabo Verde

Côte d’Ivoire

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Guinea-Bissau

Liberia

Mali

Niger

Nigeria

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Togo

192 African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT)B.P. 141 Bureau PostEl-Mohammadia AlgiersAlgeria

Tel: +213 (0) 21 520 082/83 Fax: +213 (0) 21 520 374Email: admin@acsrt.orgWebsite: www.caert-ua.org

Acting Director: Idriss Mounir Lallali, Algeria

PurposeThe African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) is mandated to build the capacity of the AU and its Member States to prevent and counter violent extremism and terrorism on the continent, in order to achieve peace, security, stability and development in Africa. The Centre is also known by its French name Centre Africain d’Etudes et de Recherche sur le Terrorisme (CAERT).

The Centre has a primary responsibility to conduct study and research on terrorism and violent extremism, and develop strategic counter-terrorism policy options and operational plans for consideration by policy makers. The Centre conducts training, workshops, seminars and symposia as part of its counter-terrorism and counter-violent extremism capacity-building mandate. The Centre also maintains a database of terrorist groups and their activities in Africa as well as a list of resource persons with counter-terrorism expertise on the continent. The research, studies and analysis of the Centre are disseminated in the form of early warning messages and in various publications including the African Journal on Terrorism, policy briefs, bi-weekly Bulletin and quarterly trend analysis reports.

For purposes of coordination across the continent, AU Member States and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) maintain the system of national and regional focal points respectively for the Centre. The ACSRT Director, who doubles as the AU Special Representative for Counter-Terrorism Cooperation, is also required to liaise with international partners, institutions and bodies with similar objectives, to foster cooperation and support for the AU and ACSRT counter-terrorism effort.

EvolutionACSRT was inaugurated on 13 October 2004, with headquarters in Algiers, Algeria. The establishment of ACSRT is as constituted under section H, paragraphs 19 to 21, of the AU Plan of Action on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism and in line with decisions adopted by the AU Assembly and Executive Council (see Assembly/AU/Dec.15(II) of July 2003 and EX.CL/Dec.13(II) of March 2003, EX/CL/Dec.82(IV) of March 2004 and EX.CL/Dec.126(V) of June–July 2004).

StructureACSRT is a specialised agency of the AUC. The Centre has an advisory board that is appointed by the Chairperson of the Commission. The Board is composed of one representative from each of the five AU regions and one from each of the RECs, drawn from the Centre’s focal points. Board Members serve renewable one-year terms. The Centre is headed by the Director who is responsible for the day-to-day running of the affairs of the Centre. Administratively, the Centre is part of the AUC Peace and Security Department (from 2021, the Political Affairs, Peace and Security Department (PAPS) under the new AUC structure).

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African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL)National Road, No 36 Ben Aknoun PO Box 61 Bis AlgiersAlgeria

Tel: +213 (0) 23 38 43 56 Fax: +213 (0) 23 38 43 58 Email: Afripol@Africa-Union.org

Director: Tarek A Sharif, Libya

The African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) was established as a specialised institution for cooperation among the police agencies of AU Member States. Its statutes were adopted by the AU Assembly in January 2017 (Assembly/AU/Dec.636(XXVIII)).

The structure of AFRIPOL shall consist of the General Assembly as the supreme technical and deliberative organ; the Steering Committee as the executive body of AFRIPOL responsible for implementing the decisions of the General Assembly; the Secretariat; and AFRIPOL National Liaison Offices, which are national points of contact in the Member States that will enable the smooth running of AFRIPOL. The staffing structure was adopted by the AU Assembly in February 2020 (see Assembly/AU/Dec.750(XXXIII) and EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI)).

All Member States have established AFRIPOL National Liaison Offices for coordination among police agencies. AFRIPOL is also working towards the full operationalisation of the African Police Communication System (AFSECOM), which will provide secure and reliable communication and information and data sharing among police agencies. In addition, AFRIPOL has established working groups focusing on cybercrime, transnational organised crime and terrorism, with the mandate to provide technical guidance to the AFRIPOL Secretariat in combating these crime areas. The working groups are composed of experts from Member State police agencies.

AFRIPOL is also continuing to strengthen cooperation with similar international organisations such as the International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) and the European Union Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL), recognising that crime is increasingly globalised.

Social Affairs Bodies

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)African Union Commission HeadquartersRoosevelt Street (Old Airport Area)W21K19 Addis Ababa Ethiopia

Tel: +251 (0) 11 551 77 00 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 78 44Email: africacdc@africa-union.orgWebsite: www.au.int/en/africacdc

or www.africacdc.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/africacdcTwitter: @AfricaCDC

Director: John Nkengasong, Cameroon (appointed in November 2016)

PurposeThe Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) supports all African countries to improve surveillance of, emergency response to and prevention of infectious diseases. This includes addressing outbreaks (human-made and natural disaster-related) and public health events of regional and international concern. It seeks to build capacity to reduce

194 disease burden on the continent. The Africa CDC is a specialised technical institution of the African Union that serves as a platform for Member States to share knowledge, exchange lessons learned and build capacity. It was launched in January 2017.

The Africa CDC has been leading COVID-19 pandemic response initiatives in Africa since early 2020. See www.africacdc.org and https://au.int/en/covid19 for the latest information. The Africa CDC also continued to support the ongoing Ebola outbreaks in DR Congo and Guinea, as well as working with AU Member States on other public health issues such as cholera, Lassa fever, HIV and AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, hepatitis and non-communicable diseases.

Information about the Africa CDC’s strategic objectives and activities is on the website www.africacdc.org.

EvolutionThe January 2015 AU Assembly endorsed the establishment of the Africa CDC (Assembly/AU/Dec.554 (XXIV)). The first Governing Board meeting was held in May 2016 and endorsed Egypt, Gabon, Kenya, Nigeria and Zambia as the five Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs).

Structure The Africa CDC Statute, articles 8–21, provides for the following structure: • Governing Board: a 15-member deliberative organ, answerable to the Specialised

Technical Committee (STC) on Health, Population and Drug Control. The Board elects a chairperson and vice-chairperson from among African Ministers of Health.

• Advisory and Technical Council: a 23-member council comprising one representative from each of the five Africa CDC RCCs, five representatives from national public health institutes or laboratories or related institutions, one representative each from the ministries of health of five Member States, representatives of two African health networks, representatives of two AU specialised and technical offices and institutions (medical services and the AU–Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU–IBAR)), one representative of a regional health organisation, two World Health Organization (WHO) representatives and one representative of the World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE). Members of the Council will serve non-renewable three-year rotating terms where applicable. A chairperson and vice-chairperson are elected for non-renewable two-year terms.

• Secretariat: headed by a director appointed by the AUC, following approval by the Africa CDC Governing Board, for a four-year term renewable only once. The Director also serves as secretary to the Board and Council.

AIDS Watch Africa (AWA)Website: https://au.int/en/sa/awa and www.aidswatchafrica.netFacebook: www.facebook.com/aidswatchafricaTwitter: @aidswatchafrica

AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) is a statutory entity of the AU with the specific mandate to lead advocacy, resource mobilisation and accountability efforts to advance a robust African response to end AIDS, tuberculosis (TB) and malaria by 2030.

AWA was created following a special summit of African Heads of State and Government in April 2001 in Abuja, Nigeria, to address the challenges of HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria and other related infectious diseases. The special summit followed a decision by the OAU Assembly at its July 2000 Summit, held in Lomé, Togo, to take a strong stance against these diseases (AHG/Decl.2 (XXXVI) and AHG/Decl.3 (XXXVI)). AWA’s work is driven by the Abuja

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Declarations and, broadly, the Africa Health Strategy (2016–30), the Catalytic Framework to end AIDS, TB and eliminate malaria by 2030, and the Sustainable Development Goals 2030.

The AWA Heads of State and Government Action Committee (AWA Action Committee) serves as the primary structure of AWA. The AU Chairperson serves as the AWA Chairperson. The Secretariat is located within the AUC.

Centre for Linguistic and Historical Studies by Oral Tradition (CELHTO)B.P. 878NiameyNiger

Tel: +227 2073 5414Fax: +227 2073 3654Email: celhto@africa-union.org

Website: www.celhto.org (French)Facebook: www.facebook.com/celhtoTwitter: @celhto YouTube: www.youtube.com/user/celhto

Coordinator: Komi N’kégbé Fogâ Tublu, Togo (appointed in February 2014)

PurposeCELHTO seeks to contribute to Africa’s integration and development by providing analysis on African history, societies and culture to the AU system. Its main mandate is to work for the recovery of the continent’s autonomy from external cultural visions by affirming a cultural identity that promotes the integration and development of the continent. The Centre aims to undertake linguistic, historical and sociological studies of African communities; produce and preserve written, audio, photographic and audiovisual records of oral traditions; and ensure popular approaches to the economic, political and socio-cultural integration of Africa. See the CELHTO website for more information about its mandate and objectives.

Key programmes are: collecting, safeguarding, digitising and distributing records of African oral traditions; strengthening the development and use of African languages; publishing research results in scientific journals; protecting heritage as part of conflict prevention and resolution in Africa; and supporting African civil society and its diaspora.

EvolutionCELHTO is the successor to the Centre for Research and Documentation for Oral Tradition (CRDTO), which was originally established in 1968 on the recommendation of the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). CRDTO became CELHTO when it was integrated into the OAU in 1974. The evolution of the OAU into the AU led CELHTO to broaden its scope.

StructureCELHTO is a specialised technical agency of the AUC. It works closely with universities, social science centres of research and civil society cultural organisations. CELHTO is headed by a coordinator who reports to the AUC Director of Social Affairs (from 2021, the Director of Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Development (HHS) under the new AUC structure).

196 African Academy of Languages (ACALAN)B.P. E2097Hamdallaye, ACI 2000Porte 223 rue 394BamakoMali

Tel: +223 2029 0459 Fax: +223 2029 0457Email: acalan@Africa-union.org Website: www.acalan-au.org

Facebook: search on ‘African Academy of Languages Acalan’ Twitter: @AcademyAcalan

Executive Secretary: Lang Fafa Dampha (since September 2015)

PurposeACALAN’s mandate is to contribute significantly to fostering the integration and development of Africa through the promotion and development of African languages. Its overall objectives are to: • Promote and develop African languages in general and vehicular cross-border languages

in particular, and their use as a factor of African integration and development, in partnership with the former colonial languages

• Promote convivial, functional multilingualism at all levels of society, particularly in the education sector.

For information about ACALAN projects, see the ACALAN website www.acalan-au.org.

EvolutionACALAN was originally established on 19 December 2000 by the then President of Mali, Alpha Oumar Konaré, as the Mission for the African Academy of Languages (MACALAN). The Mission became the African Academy of Languages when its Statutes were adopted by the AU Assembly at its January 2006 Summit in Khartoum, Sudan (Assembly/AU/Dec.95(VI)).

StructureACALAN is a specialised institution of the African Union. Under chapter II, article 6 of its Statutes, it has the following five organs, the: • AU Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Youth, Culture and Sports,

which is its supreme organ • Governing Board, its highest policy organ • Assembly of Academicians, its consultative organ • Scientific and Technical Committee, its advisory organ • Executive Secretariat, its administrative organ.

ACALAN’s two working structures are the: • National Language Structures (one in each Member State) • Vehicular Cross-border Language Commissions (one for each vehicular

cross-border language).

MeetingsThe ACALAN Statutes provide for the Governing Board to hold one statutory meeting a year (before the STC meeting), while the Assembly should meet once every two years, and the Scientific and Technical Committee at least twice a year. The Board and Assembly may meet at ACALAN Headquarters or in any other Member State by invitation, while the Committee should meet at the AU and ACALAN Headquarters.

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African Institute for Remittances (AIR) Inside Kenya School of Monetary Studies

(KSMS)Noordin Road, off Thika HighwayPO Box 1121-00200Nairobi, Kenya

Tel: +254 (0) 20 8646 156/284Email: AIR@au-air.org with copy to

amadou.cisse@au-air.org and kinfeh@africa-union.org

Website: www.au-air.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AIRemittancesTwitter: @airemittances

PurposeThe African Institute for Remittances (AIR) is an AU specialised technical office. Its main objectives are: promoting reforms to legal and regulatory frameworks aimed at enhancing remittance market competition and efficiency, leading to reduced costs of remittance transfers to and within Africa; improving AU Member State capacities on remittance data measurement, compilation and reporting; and designing and implementing strategic tools to leverage the potential impact of remittances on the social and economic development of AU Member States. AIR was also established to become a centre of excellence on remittances.

As of December 2020, 15 Member States had benefitted from the AIR technical assistance (TA) programme on improving remittance statistics, regulatory frameworks and leveraging remittances for social and economic development. TA was also provided to the central banks and statistics agencies of DR Congo, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Madagascar, Malawi, Mauritania, Nigeria, Zimbabwe and the Bank of Central African States (BEAC) and its Member States, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Chad, Equatorial Guinea, Gabon and Congo Republic. In addition, the Institute developed a remittances compilation guide (RCG) and remittances household survey (RHS) guide for AU Member States, as well as new regulatory frameworks on remittances for two Member States, and continued engaging with the African diaspora through its annual consultation platform.

Evolution AIR was established by AU Assembly decision 440(XIX) of July 2012. It was launched in November 2014 and the transitional structure has been operational since October 2015. Key development partners in the establishment of AIR include the African Development Bank, European Commission, World Bank Group and the International Organization for Migration (IOM). The AU Assembly adopted the AIR Statute and organisational structure in January 2018 (Assembly/AU/Dec.676(XXX)).

Structure The Institute has a three-tier governance structure: • Governing Board, which will have 11 members – five ministers of finance and economic

planning (representing the five AU regions); two governors of central banks (representing the Association of African Central Banks (AACB)); representatives of the AUC and host country (Kenya); a representative of the private sector; and the Chairperson of the Consultative Forum

• Consultative Forum, which will have 23 members – representatives of the AUC, host country (Kenya), diaspora/migrant organisations, AACB, development partners and the private sector

• AIR Secretariat.

198 African Union Sport Council (AUSC) Bastos, Street No 1.798House No 192 PO Box 1363 YaoundéCameroon

Tel: +237 670 12 35 85 Email: ChipandeD@africa-union.org

Head: Decius H Chipande, Zambia

The African Union Sport Council (AUSC) is a specialised technical office of the AU. It is responsible for the coordination of the African sports movement and is a forum for concerted action between Member States for the promotion and development of sports and development through sport. The AUSC was established under the aegis of the AU in accordance with Executive Council decision 680(XX) of January 2012 regarding the new African Sport Architecture. The AUSC superseded the Supreme Council for Sport in Africa (SCSA), which was established in December 1966 and recognised in February 1980 as an OAU specialised agency for the coordination of sports in Africa. The AUSC Statute was adopted by the AU Assembly in January 2016 (Assembly/AU/Dec.589(XXVI)).

The AUSC supports Member States in the development of continental sports policies, programmes, systems and structures. It promotes sport as a fundamental human right to be enjoyed by all and facilitates sport development in Africa through skills development, social interaction and communication about relevant programmes in social development. The AUSC fosters a culture of good governance, democratic principles and institutions, popular participation, human rights and freedoms, as well as social justice in the domain of sport. It also enhances the profile and status of the African Games and promotes cooperation with international sports organisations.

The AUSC is composed of Member States, AU sport development regions, Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA), the Association of African Sport Confederations (AASC) and other continental sports bodies recognised by AUSC. Its Statute provides for the body to be governed by: the AU Specialised Technical Committee on Youth, Culture and Sports; the Sport Advisory Board; technical committees; AU sport development regions; and the Secretariat of the AUSC.

African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC)The African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC) is a specialised agency of the AU responsible for the promotion of rapid development of the African audiovisual and cinema industry (see EX.CL/DC.921(XXIX) of July 2016). Its Statute was adopted by the AU Assembly in February 2019 (Assembly/AU/Dec.735(XXXII)).

Other Bodies

African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF)2 Fairbairn Drive Mount PleasantHarareZimbabwe

Tel: +263 (0) 242 304663/332002Email: root@acbf-pact.orgWebsite: www.acbf-pact.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/ACBFOfficial/Twitter: @ACBF_Official

Executive Secretary: Emmanuel Nnadozie, Nigeria

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Purpose

The African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) is a pan-African organisation that was established in 1991 by African countries, with support from their bilateral and multilateral partners, to build human and institutional capacity for Africa’s sustainable development. The vision of the Foundation is an Africa capable of achieving its own development. Its mission is to build strategic partnerships, offer technical support and investment, and provide access to knowledge related to capacity building in Africa.

ACBF supports capacity development initiatives to most African countries, the AU Commission and the Regional Economic Communities (RECs) with financial investment and technical support. Through its support for education, training, high-level forums and professional networks in Africa, ACBF contributes to developing: skilled public sector economists and managers; women and youth empowerment; entrepreneurship; regional integration and trade facilitation; parliamentary oversight and accountability; and science and technology. ACBF has also made notable contributions in strengthening public policy, producing highly skilled development practitioners, strengthening institutions for financial accountability, enhancing the effectiveness of non-state actors, and providing a platform for knowledge-sharing, dialogue and coordination in capacity development.

EvolutionIn January 2017, the AU Assembly granted ACBF the status of specialised agency of the AU for capacity development (see Assembly/AU/Dec.621(XXVIII)), giving the Foundation the mandate to spearhead and coordinate the implementation of capacity development interventions in support of Agendas 2063 and 2030. In February 2020, the AU Executive Council directed the AU Commission to channel all departments’ and organs’ capacity-building-related 2020 budget to the ACBF, and requested the ACBF to accommodate the AUC as a full-time member of its Board of Governors and Executive Board (EX.CL/Dec.1073(XXXVI)).

StructureThe Foundation is led by an executive secretary under the authority of the Board of Governors. The Board is mainly composed of African ministers of finance and/or economic planning and directors-general, vice-presidents or other high-level representatives of international development cooperation agencies. An executive board, appointed by the Board of Governors, sets the guidelines, rules and procedures under which the Foundation operates and approves the projects and budgets for all programming interventions.

The Executive Board has 11 members, three of whom are representatives of the founding sponsoring institutions while the remaining eight are independent members. Members are appointed on individual merit and primarily because of their experience and knowledge of development issues in Africa. The Executive Secretary is an ex officio member of the Executive Board.

In addition to its headquarters in Harare, Zimbabwe, the Foundation has offices in Accra, Ghana and Nairobi, Kenya; and representation at the AUC in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

200 Pan African Women’s Organization (PAWO)PAWO was founded in 1962 as a premier pan-African organisation of women at the forefront of fighting for the liberation of the African continent from colonial rule, the elimination of apartheid, and the participation of African women in political decision-making structures.

The objectives of PAWO are to strive to: achieve the effective and responsible participation of African women in the socio-economic, political and cultural development of Africa; pursue representation of women at national, regional and international levels of decision-making; fight for the elimination of all forms of discrimination against women; and advance women’s empowerment. The AU has identified a strategic need for collaboration with PAWO to enable the Union to strengthen and enhance its capacity and reach to achieve the goals and aspirations of the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Agenda 2030, as they pertain to women and children.

In January 2017, the AU Assembly granted PAWO the status of a specialised agency of the AU (see Assembly/AU/Dec.621(XXVIII) and Ex.CL/Dec.943(XXX)). PAWO has a memorandum of understanding with the AU, which was signed on 21 February 2019 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

PAWO is headquartered in Pretoria, South Africa, with representation in all AU regions. The President of PAWO is Eunice Iipinge, Namibia.

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE AU

202 PARTNERSHIPS WITH THE AU

Partnership between the African Union and the United Nations Partnership between the predecessor of the AU, the OAU, and the UN was first formalised in a cooperation agreement in 1990. In 2001, the UN adopted the OAU’s New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) as the framework within which it should concentrate efforts for Africa’s development (see UN General Assembly resolution 57/7 of November 2001).

In November 2006, the Chairperson of the AU Commission (AUC) and the Secretary-General of the UN signed the Declaration ‘Enhancing UN–AU Cooperation: Framework for the ten-year capacity building programme for the African Union’ (TYCBP–AU). Partnership between the AU and UN with a focus on peace and security was formalised with the creation of the UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) in 2010 (see UN General Assembly resolution 64/288).

The TYCBP–AU and NEPAD became the frameworks of focus between the AU and the UN under the Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM). The TYCPB–AU came to an end in December 2016, and, through the RCM, the Renewed UN–AU Partnership on Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda (PAIDA) 2017–27 was adopted by the UN through General Assembly resolution 71/254 of 23 December 2016. The framework for PAIDA was adopted by the AU Assembly in June 2015 (Assembly/AU/Dec.587(XXV)). PAIDA is aligned to the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the UN’s Agenda 2030 as well as integrating other major socio-economic development frameworks and security.

In addition to PAIDA, the Chairperson of the AU Commission and the Secretary-General of the UN signed the Joint UN–AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security in April 2017 at the first UN–AU Annual Conference. In January 2018, at the 30th AU Assembly Summit, the Chairperson and the Secretary-General signed the AU–UN Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The third AU–UN Annual Conference was held on 6 May 2019, in New York, USA, and the fourth was held by videoconference on 9 December 2020. The fifth Conference is expected to be held at a mutually convenient time in 2021.

UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA)Menelik II AvenuePO Box 3001Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 (0) 11 544 5000 Fax: +251 (0) 11 551 4416

Email: ecainfo@un.orgWebsite: www.uneca.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/

EconomicCommissionforAfricaTwitter: @ECA_OFFICIALYouTube: www.youtube.com/user/unecaVideo

Under-Secretary-General and Executive Secretary: Vera Songwe, Cameroon (appointed by the UN Secretary-General in April 2017)

PurposeThe UN Economic Commission for Africa (ECA) is the regional arm of the UN in Africa. It was established by the UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) in 1958 as one of the UN’s five regional commissions (ECOSOC res. 671A (XXV) (1958)). ECA’s mandate is to support the economic and social development of its Member States, foster regional integration and promote international cooperation for Africa’s development.

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In December 1977, the UN General Assembly decided that the regional commissions should take leadership and responsibility for cooperation and the coordination of UN activities at the regional level, taking into account the special needs and conditions of their respective regions (resolution 32/197 (paragraph 20)). This role initially entailed holding regular meetings among UN organisations and agencies with a view to improving the coherence of their activities in the regions. UN ECOSOC took this further by requesting UN agencies and organisations to conduct regular regional consultations (resolution 1998/46 (annex III)). The first series of regional consultation meetings was held in 1999 in the five regions, all chaired by the UN Deputy Secretary-General, and these meetings continue under the name Regional Coordination Mechanism for Africa (RCM-Africa).

Following restructuring in 2019, ECA’s work programme focuses on three core functions:• Think tank: generating knowledge and applied policy research, organising reviews on the

analytical work of ECA, and facilitating the implementation of policy recommendations• Convening: providing regional inter-governmental platforms to discuss transboundary

regional and sub-regional issues and matters of common concern. ECA has been responsible for holding UN agency regional coordination meetings (RCMs) for Africa since the year 2000

• Operational: providing policy advice to countries and supporting the implementation of innovative solutions for development and capacity development at regional, sub-regional and national levels while ensuring coherence at all levels in promoting regional integration in support of the AU’s vision and priorities, and meeting Africa’s special needs and emerging global challenges.

ECA’s work has been reorganised around six substantive programme clusters: macro-economics, governance and development planning; poverty, inequality and social policy, which includes the Centre for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women; technology, climate change and natural resource management; private sector development and finance; data and statistics; and regional integration and trade. More information is on the ECA website under ‘Our Work’.

The ongoing UN reforms also call for ECA to work closely with UN resident coordinators to ensure coherence and impact at national levels. ECA also focuses on skills development and improving public sector management and development planning support for the structural transformation of Member States through the Institute of Economic Development and Planning (IDEP), which is based in Dakar, Senegal.

StructureECA is headquartered in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and is headed by a UN under-secretary-general. It works with the AU through substantive divisions, the RCM-Africa, the Joint Secretariat Support Office (JSSO) of ECA, the AUC and the African Development Bank (AfDB). For increased proximity and focus at sub-regional level, ECA has five sub-regional offices that work with the eight Regional Economic Communities (RECs). The offices are based in Yaoundé, Cameroon, for central Africa; Kigali, Rwanda, for eastern Africa; Rabat, Morocco, for north Africa; Lusaka, Zambia, for southern Africa; and Niamey, Niger, for west Africa. Training is carried out by IDEP.

204 MeetingsECA sessions are held annually. From 2008 to 2014, sessions were held jointly with the AU Conference of Ministers Responsible for Economy and Finance, and then with the AU Specialised Technical Committee (STC) on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration.1 Since 2017, the STC has met independently from ECA.

MembershipThe geographical scope of ECA’s work is the continent and islands of Africa. Membership is open to members of the UN in this region and to any state in the area that may become a member of the UN in the future. Under its terms of reference, ECA may invite UN Member States to participate in its work in a consultative capacity. Switzerland participates in a consultative capacity by virtue of ECOSOC resolution 925 (XXXIV) (1962).

Members (54)

Note1 The STC on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration is the combination of the former Conference of

Ministers of Economy and Finance and the former Conference of Ministers of Integration.

AlgeriaAngolaBeninBotswanaBurkina FasoBurundiCabo VerdeCameroonCentral African RepublicChadComorosCongo RepublicCôte d’IvoireDR CongoDjiboutiEgyptEquatorial GuineaEritrea

EswatiniEthiopiaGabonGambiaGhanaGuineaGuinea-BissauKenyaLesothoLiberiaLibyaMadagascarMalawiMaliMauritaniaMauritiusMoroccoMozambique

NamibiaNigerNigeriaRwandaSão Tomé and PríncipeSenegalSeychellesSierra LeoneSomaliaSouth AfricaSouth SudanSudanTanzaniaTogoTunisiaUgandaZambiaZimbabwe

United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU)5th and 6th floors, Zambezi BuildingUNECA CompoundMenelik II Avenue Addis AbabaEthiopiaTel: +251 (0) 11 544 2255

Email: unoau-public-information@un.orgWebsite: https://unoau.unmissions.orgFacebook: www.facebook.com/UNOfficetoAU/Twitter: @UNOAU_Flickr: www.flickr.com/photos/unoau/ Instagram: @UNOAU_

UN Special Representative to the AU and Head of UNOAU: Hanna Serwaa Tetteh, Ghana (appointed by the UN Secretary-General in December 2018)

The UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) was established in July 2010 to streamline the UN Secretariat’s presence in Ethiopia in peace and security matters (see UN General

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Assembly resolution 64/288). The focus of UNOAU is to enhance the strategic partnership of both organisations on peace and security issues, and to further strengthen ongoing measures to improve the effectiveness and efficiency of UN and AU cooperation. UNOAU’s work is guided by relevant resolutions of the United Nations Security Council as well as the UN–AU Joint Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security, signed in April 2017.

The main areas of UN–AU collaboration include: conflict analysis and prevention; mediation support; strengthening capacities and collaboration in deploying and managing peace operations; strengthening collaboration in peacebuilding and sustaining peace; and supporting efforts to enhance relations between the UN Security Council and the AU Peace and Security Council.

UNOAU has four substantive sections: Operational Planning and Advisory Service; Mission Support and Planning Service; Institutional and Operational Partnership Service; and Political Affairs.

United Nations Liaison and Representational Offices UN representation and programmes based in Addis Ababa include the:

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD)International Labour Organization (ILO)International Organization for Migration (IOM)International Telecommunication Union (ITU)Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR)UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF)UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) UN Development Programme (UNDP)UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS)UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR)UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA)UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO)UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women)UN Environment Programme (UNEP)UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat)UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR)UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO)UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS)UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU)UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA)UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC)UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS)UN Population Fund (UNFPA)UN Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) Universal Postal Union (UPU)World Food Programme (WFP)World Health Organization (WHO)World Meteorological Organization (WMO).

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) and World Bank are also represented in Addis Ababa.

206 African Development Bank (AfDB) GroupImmeuble du Centre de commerce International

d’Abidjan CCIAAvenue Jean-Paul II01 BP 1387Abidjan 01, Côte d’Ivoire

Tel: +225 2026 3900Email: afdb@afdb.orgSkype: afdb_accWebsite: www.afdb.org

Facebook: www.facebook.com/AfDBGroupTwitter: @AfDB_GroupYouTube: www.youtube.com/user/afdbcomu

President: Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria (elected by the Board of Governors in May 2015; took office 1 September 2015 for a five-year term; re-elected in August 2020 by 100% of the Bank’s member countries)

PurposeThe African Development Bank (AfDB) Group is a multilateral development finance institution. Its overall objective is to support African countries’ economic development and social progress by promoting investment of public and private capital in projects and programmes designed to reduce poverty and improve living conditions. Backed by strong support from its regional and non-regional shareholders, the AfDB is rated AAA by all rating agencies. In 2019, this strong support helped the Bank achieve a historic US$115 billion general capital increase from its shareholders, the largest in the Bank’s 55-year history.

The Bank is required to give special attention to national and multinational projects and programmes that promote regional integration. It also plays a leading role in the African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD), which aims to reduce the gaps that exist between Africa and the developed world, and has been one of the key actors supporting negotiations for the establishment of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

The Bank is implementing its 10-year strategy 2013–22, which outlines five main sectors: infrastructure development, regional and economic cooperation, private sector development, governance and accountability, and skills and technology. The Bank also pays particular attention to fragile states, agriculture and food security, and gender. Since 2015, the Bank has set the following five priorities, also known as its High 5s, to fast-track the implementation of the strategy: Light up and Power Africa, Feed Africa, Industrialise Africa, Integrate Africa, and Improve the Quality of Life for the People of Africa. The High 5s articulate bold ambitions for Africa. According to a recent independent analysis by the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), if Africa fully implements the Bank’s High 5s, it will achieve 90 percent of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) as well as 90 percent of the AU’s Agenda 2063 initiatives.

In 2020, the Bank played a key role in helping African countries cushion the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. It launched a $10 billion COVID-19 Response Facility to assist regional member countries in fighting the pandemic, as well as an award-winning $3 billion Fight COVID-19 Social Bond, the largest ever US dollar-denominated social bond on the international capital market.

The AfDB Group comprises the following three distinct entities under one management.

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African Development Bank (AfDB)The AfDB is the parent institution. It was established in 1963 by the then 23 newly independent African states. The Agreement establishing the AfDB was drawn up under the auspices of the UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) and entered into force in 1964 (see https://treaties.un.org under Depository, Status of Treaties, Chapter X, Agreement establishing the African Development Bank). The Bank began operations in 1966. It provides non-concessional loans to regional Member States as well as policy advice and technical assistance to support development efforts.

African Development Fund (ADF)The ADF was established in 1972 and became operational in 1974. It makes concessional loans and grants to low-income regional Member States, with a primary focus on poverty reduction.

Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF)The Government of Nigeria set up the NTF in 1976. It makes semi-concessional loans to regional member countries.

Membership and governanceAll AU Member States except Sahrawi Republic are shareholders of the AfDB. Twenty-seven non-African states are also shareholders. Article 3 of the AfDB Agreement, which provides for any independent African state to become a member, also makes provision for membership from outside Africa.

The Board of Governors is the Bank’s supreme organ and mostly comprises ministers of finance and economy of Member States’ governments. It issues general directives concerning the Bank’s operational policies.

The Board of Directors comprises 20 members holding the title of executive director. The Board of Governors elects the directors for three-year terms, renewable once. Regional members have 13 executive directors while states outside the region have seven.

The Board of Governors elects the President for a five-year term, renewable once. The President acts as the Bank’s Chief Executive and conducts its business, as well as being its legal representative.

Non-African shareholding countries (28)

Argentina

Austria

Belgium

Brazil

Canada

China

Denmark

Finland

France

Germany

India

Italy

Ireland (since 2020)

Japan

Korea

Kuwait

Luxembourg

Netherlands

Norway

Portugal

Saudi Arabia

Spain

Sweden

Switzerland

Turkey

United Arab Emirates (UAE; ADF member only)

United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK)

United States of America (USA)

208 Africa50 Tour Ivoire 3-8ème étageMarina de CasablancaBoulevard des Almohades20000, CasablancaMorocco

Email: info@africa50.comWebsite: www.africa50.comTwitter: @Africa50Infra

Chair of the Board of Directors: Akinwumi Adesina, Nigeria Chief Executive Officer: Alain Ebobissé, Cameroon

Africa50 is a pan-African investment platform that contributes to Africa’s growth by developing and investing in bankable projects, catalysing public sector capital, and mobilising private sector funding, with differentiated financial returns and impact.

Africa50 was established by African governments and the African Development Bank (AfDB) to help bridge Africa’s infrastructure funding gap by facilitating project development, mobilising public and private sector finance, and investing in infrastructure on the continent. Africa50 focuses on medium- to large-scale projects that have development impact while offering an appropriate risk-adjusted return to investors. Bringing project development and financing together in one platform, Africa50 seeks to provide support at every stage of the project cycle.

Africa50 began operating in 2016. There are now 28 Class A shareholders (African sovereign states) as well as three Class B shareholders (the AfDB, the Central Bank of West African States, and the Bank Al-Maghrib). As of December 2020, committed capital was US$878 million.

African shareholder countries (28)

Benin

Burkina Faso

Cameroon

Congo Republic

Côte d’Ivoire

DR Congo

Djibouti

Egypt

Gabon

Gambia

Ghana

Guinea

Kenya

Madagascar

Malawi

Mali

Mauritania

Mauritius

Morocco

Niger

Nigeria

Rwanda

Senegal

Sierra Leone

Sudan

Togo

Tunisia

Zimbabwe

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Other PartnershipsThe following list covers formal external partnerships between the AU and organisations, regions or countries.

Africa–League of Arab States (LAS) Website: www.au.int/en/partnerships/afro_arab

Formal relations between Africa and the Arab world were launched at the first Africa–Arab Summit, held in Cairo, Egypt, in March 1977. Cooperation was further consolidated at the second Africa–Arab Summit, held in Sirte, Libya, in October 2010. The Libya Summit adopted the Africa–Arab Partnership Strategy and the Joint Africa–Arab Action Plan 2011–16. It also adopted a declaration summarising common positions on major regional and international issues. The partnership strategy outlines four main areas of cooperation: political; economic, trade and financial; agriculture and food security; and socio-cultural. The joint action plan translates the strategy into concrete programmes. The strategy also elaborates implementation follow-up mechanisms, which include the Africa–Arab Summit, Joint Africa–Arab Council of Ministers of Foreign Affairs and the Coordination Committee on Africa–Arab Partnership at ministerial and senior official levels.

The Joint Africa–Arab Heads of State and Government Summit is held every three years, with ministerial-level meetings every 18 months. The Coordination Committee meets annually at ministerial level and every six months at senior official level. As of September 2019, four Africa–Arab summits had been held, most recently from 17 to 23 November 2016 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The fifth Summit was to be held in 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

African Union (AU)–European Union (EU) PartnershipWebsite: http://au.int/en/partnerships/africa_eu or www.africa-eu-partnership.org

The AU–EU Partnership, in its current form, was launched with the first Africa–EU Summit in April 2000, held in Cairo, Egypt. The fifth Summit was held in November 2017 in Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire. The Partnership’s stated vision is to: reinforce political relations; strengthen and promote issues of common concern; promote effective multilateralism; and promote people-centred partnerships. Activities are based on the Joint Africa–Europe Strategy, which was adopted by Heads of State and Government at the 2007 Summit in Lisbon, Portugal; the Joint Road Map 2014–17, which was adopted at the 2014 Summit; and a declaration adopted at the November 2017 Summit. Partnership mechanisms exist at several levels, including Heads of State summits, ministerial meetings, Commission-to-Commission meetings, and other forums for civil society, the private sector and parliamentarians. The sixth Summit was to be held in Europe in 2020 but was postponed because of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The AU has been working towards a new partnership agreement with the EU post-Cotonou 2020 (see Assembly/AU/Dec.715(XXXII)). Cotonou is an agreement between the EU and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states that was signed in Cotonou, Benin, in 2000 for 20 years (see Assembly/AU/Dec.694(XXXI) of July 2018). In December 2020, negotiators from the Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS, previously ACP) and the EU reached a political agreement for a new 20-year partnership Agreement. The application of the Cotonou Agreement was extended until 30 November 2021 unless the new Agreement enters into force or is provisionally applied before that date.

210 Africa–South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF)Website: www.au.int/en/partnerships/africa_southamerica

The first ASACOF Summit was held in November 2006 in Abuja, Nigeria, and the third in February 2013 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea. The fourth Summit was scheduled to be held in Quito, Ecuador, in May 2016, but did not take place because of unforeseen circumstances. Both regions were working together on convening the next Summit. The Forum’s mandate is to facilitate the development of trade and industry for both regions, including through sharing best practices in priority thematic areas. The Summit is also a forum for dialogue on peace and security, democracy, governance and social justice. The Forum’s core structures include a coordination group, an ad hoc committee, senior and high officials’ meetings, ministerial meetings and the Assembly.

African Union Commission–United States of America High-Level DialogueWebsite: http://au.int/partnerships

The AUC and United States Department of State signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) in 2013 that formalised cooperation on issues including peace and security, democracy and governance, economic growth, trade and investment, and promotion of opportunity and development. The seventh High-Level Dialogue was held in Washington, DC, USA, in November 2019. The usually annual dialogues discuss and agree on the implementation of flagship projects. In addition, the African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) is a trade programme allowing eligible African countries to export certain goods duty-free to the USA. In June 2015, the USA approved a 10-year extension of the AGOA.

Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)Website: www.au.int/en/partnerships/africa_china or www.focac.org/eng

The Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is a platform for consultation and dialogue between China and African states. It was inaugurated in October 2000 in Beijing, China. The AUC is a full member of the FOCAC process. The Forum is mandated to strengthen consultation, expand cooperation and promote political dialogue and economic cooperation between Africa and China. Since 2015, FOCAC conferences have alternated between China and an African country. The third FOCAC Summit at Heads of State and Government level was held in September 2018 in Beijing, China. The fourth Ministerial Conference is scheduled to be held in Senegal in 2021 subject to COVID-19 conditions (EX.CL/Dec.1107(XXXVIII)). An Extraordinary China–Africa Summit was held by videoconference on 17 June 2020 on solidarity against COVID-19, proposed by China and South Africa, in its capacity as Chair of the African Union, and Senegal, the Co-Chair of the Forum.

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD)Website: www.mofa.go.jp/region/africa/ticad/index.html

TICAD was formalised in 1993 on the initiative of the Government of Japan, with the objective of promoting high-level political dialogue and mobilising support for African development initiatives. TICAD met in Japan at Heads of State and Government level every five years, from 1993 to 2013, and, in June 2013, agreed to meet every three years, alternating between Africa and Japan. TICAD VI was held in August 2016 in Nairobi, Kenya, the first time the TICAD Summit was held in Africa. The TICAD VII Summit was held in Yokohama, Japan, in August 2019. The AUC became a full partner of the TICAD process in 2010. TICAD is overseen by a follow-up mechanism, which comprises a three-tier structure of a joint secretariat, joint monitoring committee and follow-up meetings. Each TICAD summit approves a declaration

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and an action plan. The TICAD process involves five stakeholders called co-organisers: the Government of Japan, AUC, UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSAA), UN Development Programme (UNDP) and the World Bank. In February 2020, the AU Assembly endorsed an offer made by Tunisia to host the TICAD 8 Summit in 2022 (Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII)). In February 2021, the Executive Council reiterated the AU’s availability to host TICAD 8 in Tunisia in 2022 (EX.CL/Dec.1107(XXXVIII)).

Africa–India PartnershipWebsite: http://au.int/en/partnerships/africa_india

The Africa–India Cooperation Agreement was launched by a Leaders’ Summit in April 2008 in New Delhi, India. The Summit adopted two documents: the Delhi Declaration and an Africa–India Framework for Cooperation. The second Summit was held on 25 May 2011 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and a third in October 2015 in New Delhi, India. The first four-year Africa–India Plan of Action (2010–13) was launched in New Delhi in March 2010. The Plan of Action of the Enhanced Framework for the Cooperation, born out of the second Africa–India Forum (AIFS II), was adopted in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, during the second Africa–India Summit and signed in New Delhi, India, on 4 September 2013. The third Africa–India Forum adopted two documents, the Delhi Declaration and the Third Africa–India Framework for Cooperation, which cover cooperation in the areas of economic matters, trade and industry, agriculture, energy, blue ocean economy, infrastructure, education and skill development, health and peace and security. The third Summit also adopted the Framework for Strategic Partnership. In February 2020, the AU Assembly endorsed an offer by Mauritania to host the fourth Summit in 2021 (Assembly/AU/Dec.762(XXXIII)).

Africa–Turkey Partnership Website: www.au.int/en/partnerships/africa_turkey or www.mfa.gov.tr/turkey-africa-relations.en.mfa

The Africa–Turkey Partnership was formalised in April 2008 at the Istanbul Summit. The 2008 Summit adopted two outcome documents, the Istanbul Declaration and the Framework for Cooperation, which set out the areas of cooperation between the two parties. The Framework focuses on: inter-governmental cooperation; trade and investment; agriculture, agribusiness, rural development, water resources management and small- and medium-scale enterprises; health; peace and security; infrastructure, energy and transport; culture, tourism and education; media and information communications technology; and environment. An implementation plan for 2010–14 was adopted in 2010, and in 2014, a joint implementation plan was adopted for 2015–19. The second Africa–Turkey Summit took place in November 2014 in Malabo, Equatorial Guinea, and adopted three outcome documents: the Malabo Declaration, the 2015–19 Joint Implementation Plan, and the Matrix of Key Priority Projects. As part of the Africa–Turkey follow-up mechanism, a Ministerial Review Conference was held in February 2018 in Istanbul, Turkey, to assess the Malabo Action Plan. The parties agreed to develop concrete projects, in line with Agenda 2063, in preparation for the third Africa–Turkey Summit, which was scheduled to be held in Turkey in 2020.

Africa–Korea The Africa–Korea Forum was launched in Seoul, South Korea, in November 2006 as a follow-up mechanism of the Korean Initiative of African Development (KIAD), which was announced in March 2006 by the then Korean President Roh Moo-hyun during his visit to Egypt, Algeria and Nigeria. Although initially envisaged as a ministerial conference, the first Africa–Korea Forum was attended by five African Heads of State. The outcome documents adopted during the first Forum were the Seoul Declaration 2006 and the Action Plan 2006–09. These acknowledged that the first Forum “laid the foundation for a framework of friendship,

212 partnership and cooperation between Korea and the African countries”, and reflected agreement that the Forum should be held on a three-year cycle to serve as a mechanism for substantive cooperation. The second and third Forums were held in 2009 and 2012 in Seoul, South Korea. The fourth Forum was held from 6 to 7 December 2016 in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, and adopted the 2016 Addis Ababa Declaration and the fourth Africa–Korea Forum Framework of Cooperation (2017–21). The next Forum is expected to be held in November 2021, subject to COVID-19 conditions (EX.CL/Dec.1107(XXXVIII)).

Non-African states, regional integration and international organisations accredited to the AUThe AUC Protocol Services Directorate (from 2021, the Office of Protocol under the new AUC structure) list of non-African states and organisations accredited to the AU as at 14 October 2019 (in order of original accreditation) is:

European Union,* Denmark, Canada, Cuba, Finland, Netherlands, Czech Republic, Spain, Japan, United Kingdom, France, China, Portugal, Austria, Germany, Sweden, Italy, Serbia, Norway, India, Romania, Republic of Korea, Turkey, Greece, Pakistan, Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, Brazil, Mexico, Russian Federation, Belgium, Poland, Yemen, Guatemala, Malta, Peru, Venezuela, Ireland, Switzerland, League of Arab States,* Slovak Republic, Iran, United States of America, Antigua and Barbuda, UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS),* Iceland, Hungary, Croatia, Bulgaria, Chile, Organisation Internationale de la Francophonie (OIF),* Syria, Holy See, Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light Weapons (RECSA),* UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA),* Australia, World Food Programme Liaison Office (WFP-LO),* UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO),* UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF),* International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC),* Colombia, UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR),* Argentina, Bosnia and Herzegovina, International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR),* Luxembourg, Dominican Republic, International Institute for Democracy and Electoral Assistance (International IDEA),* Armenia, New Zealand, Cyprus, Albania, Azerbaijan, United Arab Emirates, Joint Secretariat Support Office (JSSO) for AUC–African Development Bank–UN Economic Commission for Africa (AUC–AfDB–UNECA),* Slovenia, African Ombudsman and Mediators Association (AOMA),* Ecuador, Georgia, Kuwait, Indonesia, Latvia, Cambodia, International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC),* Haiti, Panama, Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO),* Jamaica, Singapore, Estonia, African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF),* Lithuania, Trinidad and Tobago, Kazakhstan, Sovereign Order of Malta, Belarus, Sri Lanka, Uruguay, Qatar, United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women),* World Food Programme (WFP) Africa Office,* Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan, Indian Ocean Rim Association,* Palestine, the US Mission to the African Union (USAU), Ukraine, International Criminal Police Organization (ICPO-INTERPOL),* Sultanate of Oman, UN Population Fund (UNFPA) Liaison Office to the AU,* World Health Organization (WHO) Liaison Office to the AU,* Fiji, Bangladesh, Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and Madagascar (ASECNA),* International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD),* United Nations Office to the African Union (UNOAU),* Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) Liaison Office to the AU.*

Note* Denotes organisations.

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

BUDGET AND SCALE OF ASSESSMENT

214 BUDGET AND SCALE OF ASSESSMENT

Budget

ProcessIn line with article 11 of the AU Financial Rules and Regulations (FRR), the Accounting Officer prepares the budget and convenes the pre-budget hearings with the internal Programmes and Budget Committee and other key stakeholders before preparation of the budget proposals, in order to discuss the priorities and requirements of the financial year. The joint sitting of the Permanent Representatives Committee’s (PRC’s) Advisory Sub-Committee on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters and the Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance (F15) reviews the budget proposals and makes recommendations to the PRC for consideration. The PRC, after reviewing the budget proposals, submits the revised proposals to the Executive Council for approval. Prior to 2019, the Executive Council, sitting together with the Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance, then submitted the budget proposals to the Assembly for adoption. Since July 2019, budget proposals are adopted by the Executive Council. This follows the January 2018 decision by the AU Assembly to delegate its powers to adopt budget proposals to the Executive Council (Assembly/AU/Dec.687(XXX)). The budget process starts immediately after the adoption of the Budget Framework paper that guides the priorities and interventions of a particular financial year (January to December).

BudgetThe budget is prepared and presented in four main components: staff costs, operating expenses, capital expenses and programmes. The AU Golden Rules for financial management, adopted in January 2018, provide that 30 percent of the total budget should be related to the operational budget and 70 percent to the programme budget. In addition, Assembly decision 578(XXV) of June 2015 provides that the AU should strive to ensure that 100 percent of the operational budget, 75 percent of the programme budget and 25 percent of the peace support operations budget are funded by Member States by the year 2022. In order to achieve this, the Assembly adopted the Kigali decision in July 2016, which in principle requires Member States to institute a 0.2 percent levy on all eligible goods imported into the continent to fund the budget (Assembly/AU/Dec.605 (XXVII)).

As of November 2020, there were 17 Member States collecting the levy: Benin, Cameroon, Chad, Congo Republic, Côte d’Ivoire, Djibouti, Gabon, Gambia, Ghana, Guinea, Kenya, Mali, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Sudan and Togo.

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The 2021 total budget, as approved by the AU Executive Council in October 2020, meeting by videoconference, was US$636,075,986, divided as follows (EX.CL/Dec.1097(XXXVII)).1

• Operating budget: US$172,089,820 to be financed as follows: – US$161,000,000 (93 percent) assessed on Member States – US$8,500,000 (5 percent) from Administrative Cost – US$2,589,820 (2 percent) from the Maintenance Fund

• Programme budget: US$199,247,5062

– US$42,500,000 (21 percent) assessed on Member States – US$153,695,506 (77 percent) to be solicited from international partners – US$3,052,000 (2 percent) from the Maintenance Fund

• Peace Support Operations: US$264,738,661 to be wholly financed by international partners.

Out of the total 2021 budget of US$636,075,986, as approved by the Executive Council in October 2020, US$203,500,000 was to be assessed on Member States (32 percent), US$8,500,000 from the Administrative Cost (1 percent), US$418,434,167 from partners (66 percent) and US$5,641,820 from the Maintenance Fund (1 percent).

The 2020 budget total, as adopted by the AU Executive Council in July 2019, was US$647,379,441 (see EX.CL/Dec.1069(XXXV) for details).

More information about financing the Union is available at https://au.int/en/aureforms/financing.

Notes1 In February 2021, the AU Executive Council approved a new total budget of US$623,836,163 for 2021, of which

US$203,500,000 was to be assessed on Member States (32 percent), US$8,500,000 from the Administrative Cost (1 percent); US$406,194,344 from partners (65 percent), and US$5,641,820 from the Maintenance Fund (1 percent). See EX.CL/Dec.1107(XXXVIII).

2 Some dollar figures may not add up because of rounding of numbers.

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220 Scale of AssessmentIn February 2019, the AU Assembly decided to adopt a reformulated scale of assessment for the 2020, 2021 and 2022 financial years based on the principles of ability to pay, solidarity and equitable burden-sharing to avoid risk concentration (see Assembly/AU/Dec.734(XXXII) of February 2019; also see EX.CL/Dec.1101(XXXVII) of October 2020 and EX.CL/Dec.1119(XXXVIII) of February 2021). The new scale, which introduced ‘Caps’ and ‘Minima’, was developed on an understanding that it would improve the overall burden-sharing of the budget to ensure the Union was financed in a predictable, sustainable, equitable and accountable manner with the full ownership of its Member States. During the implementation of the reformulated scale, no country will pay less than US$350,000 or more than US$35 million in any given financial year. The decisions maintained a three-tier system:• Tier 1: assessed at 45.151 percent of the Union’s assessed budget • Tier 2: assessed at 32.749 percent of the Union’s assessed budget • Tier 3: assessed at 22.100 percent of the Union’s assessed budget.

221

Bud

get a

nd S

cale

of

Ass

essm

ent

Member State Scale of Assessment % for 2020–22

Algeria 7.525

Angola 7.525

Egypt 7.525

Morocco 7.525

Nigeria 7.525

South Africa 7.525

Tier 1 (above) 45.151

Ethiopia 3.999

Kenya 3.745

Sudan 3.811

Tanzania 2.236

Tunisia 2.763

Libya 3.778

Ghana 2.811

DR Congo 1.883

Côte d’Ivoire 3.000

Cameroon 1.740

Uganda 1.383

Zambia 1.599

Tier 2 (above) 32.749

Zimbabwe 1.108

Botswana 1.152

Senegal 1.125

Gabon 1.274

Mozambique 1.132

South Sudan 1.062

Mali 0.942

Chad 0.944

Mauritius 0.938

Namibia 0.933

Burkina Faso 0.906

Madagascar 0.855

Equatorial Guinea 0.984

Congo Republic 0.877

Benin 0.689

Guinea 0.584

Rwanda 0.629

Niger 0.602

Malawi 0.407

Mauritania 0.382

222 Member State Scale of Assessment % for 2020–22

Eritrea 0.354

Sierra Leone 0.384

Togo 0.515

Swaziland 0.472

Burundi 0.411

Lesotho 0.286

Liberia 0.257

Djibouti 0.228

Central African Republic 0.226

Cabo Verde 0.234

Seychelles 0.204

Somalia 0.202

Comoros 0.174

Guinea-Bissau 0.180

Gambia 0.169

Sahrawi Republic 0.164

São Tomé and Príncipe 0.115

Tier 3 (above) 22.100

NoteSome figures may not add up because of rounding of numbers.

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

APPENDICES

224 APPENDICES

Appendix I: Constitutive Act of the African Union

We, Heads of State and Government of the Member States of the Organization of African Unity (OAU):1. The President of the People’s Democratic Republic of Algeria2. The President of the Republic of Angola3. The President of the Republic of Benin4. The President of the Republic of Botswana5. The President of Burkina Faso6. The President of the Republic of Burundi7. The President of the Republic of Cameroon8. The President of the Republic of Cape Verde9. The President of the Central African Republic10. The President of the Republic of Chad11. The President of the Islamic Federal Republic of the Comoros12. The President of the Republic of the Congo13. The President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire14. The President of the Democratic Republic of Congo15. The President of the Republic of Djibouti16. The President of the Arab Republic of Egypt17. The President of the State of Eritrea18. The Prime Minister of the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia19. The President of the Republic of Equatorial Guinea20. The President of the Gabonese Republic 21. The President of the Republic of The Gambia22. The President of the Republic of Ghana23. The President of the Republic of Guinea24. The President of the Republic of Guinea-Bissau25. The President of the Republic of Kenya26. The Prime Minister of Lesotho27. The President of the Republic of Liberia28. The Leader of the 1st of September Revolution of the

Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya29. The President of the Republic of Madagascar30. The President of the Republic of Malawi31. The President of the Republic of Mali32. The President of the Islamic Republic of Mauritania33. The Prime Minister of the Republic of Mauritius34. The President of the Republic of Mozambique35. The President of the Republic of Namibia36. The President of the Republic of Niger37. The President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria38. The President of the Republic of Rwanda39. The President of the Sahrawi Arab Democratic Republic40. The President of the Republic of Sao Tome and Principe41. The President of the Republic of Senegal 42. The President of the Republic of Seychelles

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43. The President of the Republic of Sierra Leone44. The President of the Republic of Somalia45. The President of the Republic of South Africa46. The President of the Republic of Sudan47. The King of Swaziland48. The President of the United Republic of Tanzania49. The President of the Togolese Republic50. The President of the Republic of Tunisia51. The President of the Republic of Uganda52. The President of the Republic of Zambia53. The President of the Republic of Zimbabwe

INSPIRED by the noble ideals which guided the founding fathers of our Continental Organization and generations of Pan-Africanists in their determination to promote unity, solidarity, cohesion and cooperation among the peoples of Africa and African States;

CONSIDERING the principles and objectives stated in the Charter of the Organization of African Unity and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;

RECALLING the heroic struggles waged by our peoples and our countries for political independence, human dignity and economic emancipation;

CONSIDERING that since its inception, the Organization of African Unity has played a determining and invaluable role in the liberation of the continent, the affirmation of a common identity and the process of attainment of the unity of our continent and has provided a unique framework for our collective action in Africa and in our relations with the rest of the world.

DETERMINED to take up the multifaceted challenges that confront our continent and peoples in the light of the social, economic and political changes taking place in the world;

CONVINCED of the need to accelerate the process of implementing the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community in order to promote the socio-economic development of Africa and to face more effectively the challenges posed by globalization;

GUIDED by our common vision of a united and strong Africa and by the need to build a partnership between governments and all segments of civil society, in particular women, youth and the private sector, in order to strengthen solidarity and cohesion among our peoples;

CONSCIOUS of the fact that the scourge of conflicts in Africa constitutes a major impediment to the socio-economic development of the continent and of the need to promote peace, security and stability as a prerequisite for the implementation of our development and integration agenda;

DETERMINED to promote and protect human and peoples’ rights, consolidate democratic institutions and culture, and to ensure good governance and the rule of law;

FURTHER DETERMINED to take all necessary measures to strengthen our common institutions and provide them with the necessary powers and resources to enable them discharge their respective mandates effectively;

RECALLING the Declaration which we adopted at the Fourth Extraordinary Session of our Assembly in Sirte, the Great Socialist People’s Libyan Arab Jamahiriya, on 9.9.99, in which we decided to establish an African Union, in conformity with the ultimate objectives of the Charter of our Continental Organization and the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community;

226 Have agreed as follows:

Article 1: DefinitionsIn this Constitutive Act:

“Act” means the present Constitutive Act;“AEC” means the African Economic Community;“Assembly” means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the Union;“Charter” means the Charter of the OAU;“Commission” means the Secretariat of the Union;“Committee” means a Specialized Technical Committee of the Union;“Council” means the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the Union;“Court” means the Court of Justice of the Union;“Executive Council” means the Executive Council of Ministers of the Union;“Member State” means a Member State of the Union;“OAU” means the Organization of African Unity;“Parliament” means the Pan-African Parliament of the Union;“Union” means the African Union established by the present Constitutive Act.

Article 2: EstablishmentThe African Union is hereby established in accordance with the provisions of this Act.

Article 3: ObjectivesThe objectives of the Union shall be to:(a) achieve greater unity and solidarity between the African countries and the peoples

of Africa;(b) defend the sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence of its Member States;(c) accelerate the political and socio-economic integration of the continent;(d) promote and defend African common positions on issues of interest to the continent and

its peoples;(e) encourage international cooperation, taking due account of the Charter of the United

Nations and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights;(f) promote peace, security, and stability on the continent;(g) promote democratic principles and institutions, popular participation and good

governance;(h) promote and protect human and peoples’ rights in accordance with the African Charter on

Human and Peoples’ Rights and other relevant human rights instruments;(i) establish the necessary conditions which enable the continent to play its rightful role in the

global economy and in international negotiations;(j) promote sustainable development at the economic, social and cultural levels as well as the

integration of African economies;(k) promote co-operation in all fields of human activity to raise the living standards of

African peoples;(l) coordinate and harmonize the policies between the existing and future Regional Economic

Communities for the gradual attainment of the objectives of the Union;(m) advance the development of the continent by promoting research in all fields, in particular

in science and technology;(n) work with relevant international partners in the eradication of preventable diseases and the

promotion of good health on the continent.

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Article 4: PrinciplesThe Union shall function in accordance with the following principles:(a) sovereign equality and interdependence among Member States of the Union;(b) respect of borders existing on achievement of independence;(c) participation of the African peoples in the activities of the Union;(d) establishment of a common defence policy for the African Continent;(e) peaceful resolution of conflicts among Member States of the Union through such

appropriate means as may be decided upon by the Assembly;(f) prohibition of the use of force or threat to use force among Member States of the Union;(g) non-interference by any Member State in the internal affairs of another;(h) the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the

Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity;

(i) peaceful co-existence of Member States and their right to live in peace and security; (j) the right of Member States to request intervention from the Union in order to restore peace

and security;(k) promotion of self-reliance within the framework of the Union;(l) promotion of gender equality;(m) respect for democratic principles, human rights, the rule of law and good governance;(n) promotion of social justice to ensure balanced economic development;(o) respect for the sanctity of human life, condemnation and rejection of impunity and political

assassination, acts of terrorism and subversive activities;(p) condemnation and rejection of unconstitutional changes of governments.

Article 5: Organs of the Union1. The organs of the Union shall be:

(a) The Assembly of the Union;(b) The Executive Council;(c) The Pan-African Parliament;(d) The Court of Justice;(e) The Commission;(f) The Permanent Representatives Committee;(g) The Specialized Technical Committees;(h) The Economic, Social and Cultural Council;(i) The Financial Institutions;

2. Other organs that the Assembly may decide to establish.

Article 6: The Assembly 1. The Assembly shall be composed of Heads of States and Government or their duly

accredited representatives.2. The Assembly shall be the supreme organ of the Union.3. The Assembly shall meet at least once a year in ordinary session. At the request of

any Member State and on approval by a two-thirds majority of the Member States, the Assembly shall meet in extraordinary session.

4. The Office of the Chairman of the Assembly shall be held for a period of one year by a Head of State or Government elected after consultations among the Member States.

228 Article 7: Decisions of the Assembly1. The Assembly shall take its decisions by consensus or, failing which, by a two-thirds

majority of the Member States of the Union. However, procedural matters, including the question of whether a matter is one of procedure or not, shall be decided by a simple majority.

2. Two-thirds of the total membership of the Union shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Assembly.

Article 8: Rules of Procedure of the AssemblyThe Assembly shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.

Article 9: Powers and Functions of the Assembly1. The functions of the Assembly shall be to:

(a) determine the common policies of the Union;(b) receive, consider and take decisions on reports and recommendations from the other

organs of the Union;(c) consider requests for Membership of the Union;(d) establish any organ of the Union;(e) monitor the implementation of policies and decisions of the Union as well ensure

compliance by all Member States;(f) adopt the budget of the Union;(g) give directives to the Executive Council on the management of conflicts, war and other

emergency situations and the restoration of peace;(h) appoint and terminate the appointment of the judges of the Court of Justice;(i) appoint the Chairman of the Commission and his or her deputy or deputies and

Commissioners of the Commission and determine their functions and terms of office.

2. The Assembly may delegate any of its powers and functions to any organ of the Union.

Article 10: The Executive Council1. The Executive Council shall be composed of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs or such other

Ministers or Authorities as are designated by the Governments of Member States.2. The Executive Council shall meet at least twice a year in ordinary session. It shall also

meet in an extra-ordinary session at the request of any Member State and upon approval by two-thirds of all Member States.

Article 11: Decisions of the Executive Council1. The Executive Council shall take its decisions by consensus or, failing which, by a two-

thirds majority of the Member States. However, procedural matters, including the question of whether a matter is one of procedure or not, shall be decided by a simple majority.

2. Two-thirds of the total membership of the Union shall form a quorum at any meeting of the Executive Council.

Article 12: Rules of Procedure of the Executive CouncilThe Executive Council shall adopt its own Rules of Procedure.

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Article 13: Functions of the Executive Council1. The Executive Council shall coordinate and take decisions on policies in areas of common

interest to the Member States, including the following:(a) foreign trade;(b) energy, industry and mineral resources;(c) food, agricultural and animal resources, livestock production and forestry;(d) water resources and irrigation;(e) environmental protection, humanitarian action and disaster response and relief;(f) transport and communications;(g) insurance;(h) education, culture, health and human resources development;(i) science and technology;(j) nationality, residency and immigration matters;(k) social security, including the formulation of mother and child care policies, as well

as policies relating to the disabled and the handicapped;(l) establishment of a system of African awards, medals and prizes.

2. The Executive Council shall be responsible to the Assembly. It shall consider issues referred to it and monitor the implementation of policies formulated by the Assembly.

3. The Executive Council may delegate any of its powers and functions mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article to the Specialized Technical Committees established under Article 14 of this Act.

Article 14: The Specialized Technical Committees Establishment and Composition1. There is hereby established the following Specialized Technical Committees, which shall

be responsible to the Executive Council:(a) The Committee on Rural Economy and Agricultural Matters;(b) The Committee on Monetary and Financial Affairs;(c) The Committee on Trade, Customs and Immigration Matters;(d) The Committee on Industry, Science and Technology, Energy, Natural Resources

and Environment;(e) The Committee on Transport, Communications and Tourism;(f) The Committee on Health, Labour and Social Affairs; and(g) The Committee on Education, Culture and Human Resources.

2. The Assembly shall, whenever it deems appropriate, restructure the existing Committees or establish other Committees.

3. The Specialized Technical Committees shall be composed of Ministers or senior officials responsible for sectors falling within their respective areas of competence.

Article 15: Functions of the Specialized Technical CommitteesEach Committee shall within its field of competence:(a) prepare projects and programmes of the Union and submit it to the Executive Council;(b) ensure the supervision, follow-up and the evaluation of the implementation of decisions

taken by the organs of the Union;(c) ensure the coordination and harmonization of projects and programmes of the Union;(d) submit to the Executive Council either on its own initiative or at the request of the

Executive Council, reports and recommendations on the implementation of the provisions of this Act; and

(e) carry out any other functions assigned to it for the purpose of ensuring the implementation of the provisions of this Act.

230 Article 16: MeetingsSubject to any directives given by the Executive Council, each Committee shall meet as often as necessary and shall prepare its Rules of Procedure and submit them to the Executive Council for approval.

Article 17: The Pan-African Parliament 1. In order to ensure the full participation of African peoples in the development and

economic integration of the continent, a Pan-African Parliament shall be established.2. The composition, powers, functions and organization of the Pan-African Parliament shall

be defined in a protocol relating thereto.

Article 18: The Court of Justice1. A Court of Justice of the Union shall be established;2. The statute, composition and functions of the Court of Justice shall be defined

in a protocol relating thereto.

Article 19: The Financial InstitutionsThe Union shall have the following financial institutions whose rules and regulations shall be defined in protocols relating thereto:(a) The African Central Bank;(b) The African Monetary Fund;(c) The African Investment Bank.

Article 20: The Commission1. There shall be established a Commission of the Union, which shall be the Secretariat

of the Union.2. The Commission shall be composed of the Chairman, his or her deputy or deputies

and the Commissioners. They shall be assisted by the necessary staff for the smooth functioning of the Commission.

3. The structure, functions and regulations of the Commission shall be determined by the Assembly.

Article 21: The Permanent Representatives Committee1. There shall be established a Permanent Representatives Committee. It shall be composed

of Permanent Representatives to the Union and other Plenipotentiaries of Member States.2. The Permanent Representatives Committee shall be charged with the responsibility

of preparing the work of the Executive Council and acting on the Executive Council’s instructions. It may set up such sub-committees or working groups as it may deem necessary.

Article 22: The Economic, Social and Cultural Council1. The Economic, Social and Cultural Council shall be an advisory organ composed of

different social and professional groups of the Member States of the Union.2. The functions, powers, composition and organization of the Economic, Social and Cultural

Council shall be determined by the Assembly.

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Article 23: Imposition of Sanctions1. The Assembly shall determine the appropriate sanctions to be imposed on any Member

State that defaults in the payment of its contributions to the budget of the Union in the following manner: denial of the right to speak at meetings, to vote, to present candidates for any position or post within the Union or to benefit from any activity or commitments, therefrom;

2. Furthermore, any Member State that fails to comply with the decisions and policies of the Union may be subjected to other sanctions, such as the denial of transport and communications links with other Member States, and other measures of a political and economic nature to be determined by the Assembly.

Article 24: The Headquarters of the Union1. The Headquarters of the Union shall be in Addis Ababa in the Federal Democratic

Republic of Ethiopia.2. There may be established such other offices of the Union as the Assembly may, on the

recommendation of the Executive Council, determine.

Article 25: Working LanguagesThe working languages of the Union and all its institutions shall be, if possible, African languages, Arabic, English, French and Portuguese.

Article 26: InterpretationThe Court shall be seized with matters of interpretation arising from the application or implementation of this Act. Pending its establishment, such matters shall be submitted to the Assembly of the Union, which shall decide by a two-thirds majority.

Article 27: Signature, Ratification and Accession1. This Act shall be open to signature, ratification and accession by the Member States

of the OAU in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures.2. The instruments of ratification shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the OAU.3. Any Member State of the OAU acceding to this Act after its entry into force shall deposit

the instrument of accession with the Chairman of the Commission.

Article 28: Entry into ForceThis Act shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the deposit of the instruments of ratification by two-thirds of the Member States of the OAU.

Article 29: Admission to Membership1. Any African State may, at any time after the entry into force of this Act, notify the Chairman

of the Commission of its intention to accede to this Act and to be admitted as a member of the Union.

2. The Chairman of the Commission shall, upon receipt of such notification, transmit copies thereof to all Member States. Admission shall be decided by a simple majority of the Member States. The decision of each Member State shall be transmitted to the Chairman of the Commission who shall, upon receipt of the required number of votes, communicate the decision to the State concerned.

Article 30: SuspensionGovernments which shall come to power through unconstitutional means shall not be allowed to participate in the activities of the Union.

232 Article 31: Cessation of Membership1. Any State which desires to renounce its membership shall forward a written notification to

the Chairman of the Commission, who shall inform Member States thereof. At the end of one year from the date of such notification, if not withdrawn, the Act shall cease to apply with respect to the renouncing State, which shall thereby cease to belong to the Union.

2. During the period of one year referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article, any Member State wishing to withdraw from the Union shall comply with the provisions of this Act and shall be bound to discharge its obligations under this Act up to the date of its withdrawal.

Article 32: Amendment and Revision1. Any Member State may submit proposals for the amendment or revision of this Act.2. Proposals for amendment or revision shall be submitted to the Chairman of the

Commission who shall transmit same to Member States within thirty (30) days of receipt thereof.

3. The Assembly, upon the advice of the Executive Council, shall examine these proposals within a period of one year following notification of Member States, in accordance with the provisions of paragraph 2 of this Article;

4. Amendments or revisions shall be adopted by the Assembly by consensus or, failing which, by a two-thirds majority and submitted for ratification by all Member States in accordance with their respective constitutional procedures. They shall enter into force thirty (30) days after the deposit of the instruments of ratification with the Chairman of the Commission by a two-thirds majority of the Member States.

Article 33: Transitional Arrangements and Final Provisions1. This Act shall replace the Charter of the Organization of African Unity. However, the

Charter shall remain operative for a transitional period of one year or such further period as may be determined by the Assembly, following the entry into force of the Act, for the purpose of enabling the OAU/AEC to undertake the necessary measures regarding the devolution of its assets and liabilities to the Union and all matters relating thereto.

2. The provisions of this Act shall take precedence over and supersede any inconsistent or contrary provisions of the Treaty establishing the African Economic Community.

3. Upon the entry into force of this Act, all necessary measures shall be undertaken to implement its provisions and to ensure the establishment of the organs provided for under the Act in accordance with any directives or decisions which may be adopted in this regard by the Parties thereto within the transitional period stipulated above.

4. Pending the establishment of the Commission, the OAU General Secretariat shall be the interim Secretariat of the Union.

5. This Act, drawn up in four (4) original texts in the Arabic, English, French and Portuguese languages, all four (4) being equally authentic, shall be deposited with the Secretary-General of the OAU and, after its entry into force, with the Chairman of the Commission who shall transmit a certified true copy of the Act to the Government of each signatory State. The Secretary-General of the OAU and the Chairman of the Commission shall notify all signatory States of the dates of the deposit of the instruments of ratification or accession and shall upon entry into force of this Act register the same with the Secretariat of the United Nations.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, WE have adopted this Act.

Done at Lomé, Togo, this 11th day of July, 2000.

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Appendix II: Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union

The Member States of the African Union States Parties to the Constitutive Act of the African Union

Have agreed to adopt amendments to the Constitutive Act as follows:

Article 1: DefinitionsIn this Protocol, the following expressions shall have the meanings assigned to them hereunder unless otherwise specified:

“Act” means the Constitutive Act“Assembly” means the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union“Chairperson” means chairperson of the Assembly“Court” means the Court of Justice of the Union and Court of Justice has the same meaning“Union” means the African Union

Article 2: PreambleIn the first paragraph of the Preamble to the Constitutive Act, the replacement of the words “founding fathers” with “founders”

Article 3: ObjectivesIn Article 3 of the Act (Objectives), the insertion of three new subparagraphs (i), (p) and (q) with consequential renumbering of subparagraphs:

The objectives of the Union shall be to:

(i) ensure the effective participation of women in decision-making, particularly in the political, economic and socio-cultural areas;

(p) develop and promote common policies on trade, defence and foreign relations to ensure the defence of the Continent and the strengthening of its negotiating positions;

(q) invite and encourage the full participation of the African Diaspora as an important part of our Continent, in the building of the African Union.

Article 4: PrinciplesIn Article 4 of the Act (Principles), the expansion of subparagraph (h) and the insertion of two new subparagraphs (q) and (r):

(h) the right of the Union to intervene in a Member State pursuant to a decision of the Assembly in respect of grave circumstances, namely: war crimes, genocide and crimes against humanity as well as a serious threat to legitimate order to restore peace and stability to the Member State of the Union upon the recommendation of the Peace and Security Council;

(q) restraint by any Member State from entering into any treaty or alliance that is incompatible with the principles and objectives of the Union;

(r) prohibition of any Member State from allowing the use of its territory as a base for subversion against another Member State.

234 Article 5: Organs of the UnionIn Article 5 of the Act (Organs of the Union), the insertion of a new subparagraph (f) with consequential renumbering of subsequent subparagraphs:

(f) The Peace and Security Council

Article 6: The AssemblyIn Article 6 of the Act (The Assembly) and where-ever else it occurs in the Act, the substitution of the word “Chairman” with “Chairperson”; the deletion of the second sentence of subparagraph 3 and the insertion of new paragraphs 4, 5, 6 and 7.

3. The Assembly shall meet at least once a year in ordinary session.4. At the initiative of the Chairperson after due consultation with all Member States, or at the

request of any Member State and upon approval by two-thirds majority of Member States, the Assembly shall meet in Extraordinary Session.

5. The Assembly shall elect its Chairperson from among the Heads of State or Government at the beginning of each ordinary session and on the basis of rotation for a period of one year renewable.

6. The Chairperson shall be assisted by a Bureau chosen by the Assembly on the basis of equitable geographical representation.

7. Where the Assembly meets at the Headquarters, an election of the Chairperson shall be held taking into account the principle of rotation.

Article 7: Functions of the Chairperson of the AssemblyThe insertion in the Act of a new Article 7 (bis):1. The Chairperson shall represent the Union, during his/her tenure with a view to promoting

the objectives and principles of the African Union as stipulated in Articles 3 and 4 of the Act. He/She shall also, with the collaboration of the Chairperson of the Commission, carry out the functions of the Assembly set out in Article 9(e) and (g) of the Act.

2. The Chairperson may convene the meeting of the other organs through their Chairpersons or Chief Executives and in accordance with their respective Rules of Procedure.

Article 8: The Executive CouncilIn Article 10 of the Act (The Executive Council), the insertion of a new paragraph 3:

3. The Chairperson of the Executive Council shall be assisted by a Bureau chosen by the Executive Council on the basis of equitable geographical representation.

Article 9: Peace and Security CouncilThe insertion in the Act of a new Article 20(bis):1. There is hereby established, a Peace and Security Council (PSC) of the Union, which shall

be the standing decision-making organ for the prevention, management and resolution of conflicts.

2. The functions, powers, composition and organization of the PSC shall be determined by the Assembly and set out in a protocol relating thereto.

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Article 10: The Permanent Representatives CommitteeIn Article 21 of the Act (The Permanent Representatives Committee) the insertion of a new paragraph 3:

3. The Chairperson of the Permanent Representatives Committee shall be assisted by a Bureau chosen on the basis of equitable geographical representation.

Article 11: Official LanguagesIn Article 25 of the Act (Working Languages), replace the title “Working Languages” by “Official Languages” and substitute the existing provision with:1. The official languages of the Union and all its institutions shall be Arabic, English, French,

Portuguese, Spanish, Kiswahili and any other African language.2. The Executive Council shall determine the process and practical modalities for the use

of official languages as working languages.

Article 12: Cessation of MembershipArticle 31 of the Act (Cessation of Membership) is deleted.

Article 13: Entry into ForceThis Protocol shall enter into force thirty days after the deposit of the instruments of ratification by a two-thirds majority of the Member States.1

Adopted by the 1st Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia on 3 February 2003

and

by the 2nd Ordinary Session of the Assembly of the Union in Maputo, Mozambique on 11 July 2003

Note1 As of February 2021, 50 Member States had signed the Protocol and 29 had deposited their instruments of ratification.

236 Appendix III: African Union legal instruments

The following list of African Union legal instruments, compiled by the AU Commission Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC), shows the treaties, conventions, protocols, charters and statutes that have been adopted by the Assembly of the Union or the Executive Council since the establishment of the Organization of African Unity (OAU) in 1963. These legal instruments have been drafted to establish different organs and institutions of the Union, support the AU’s activities through legal mandates and enhance cooperation among the AU Member States. There are more than 70 legal instruments, the majority of which have entered into force following the necessary number of ratifications or upon adoption. For more information about each legal instrument, see https://au.int/treaties.

Name of instrument Date of adoption Date of entry into force

Date of last signature/deposit

General Convention on the Privileges and Immunities of the Organization of African Unity

25 October 1965 25 October 1965 14 August 2018

Phyto-Sanitary Convention for Africa

13 September 1967 This Convention does not require signatures and does not contain any provision relating to its entry into force.

2 August 2016

African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources

15 September 1968 16 June 1969 14 December 2018

African Civil Aviation Commission Constitution

17 January 1969 15 March 1972 19 March 2018

OAU Convention Governing the Specific Aspects of Refugee Problems in Africa

10 September 1969 20 January 1974 14 December 2018

Constitution of the Association of African Trade Promotion Organizations

18 January 1974 28 March 2012 29 June 2018

Inter-African Convention Establishing an African Technical Co-operation Programme

1 August 1975 30 days after deposit of the 10th instrument of ratification.

21 February 2017

Cultural Charter for Africa 5 July 1976 19 September 1990 26 September 2007

Convention for the Elimination of Mercenarism in Africa

3 July 1977 22 April 1985 27 July 2015

Additional Protocol to the OAU General Convention on Privileges and Immunities

1 June 1980 This Statute enters into force for each state on the date of deposit of the instrument of accession.

13 December 2018

African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights

1 June 1981 21 October 1986 19 May 2016

Convention for the Establishment of the African Centre for Fertilizer Development

1 July 1985 20 July 2012 29 June 2018

Agreement for the Establishment of the African Rehabilitation Institute (ARI)

17 July 1985 2 December 1991 10 June 2016

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Name of instrument Date of adoption Date of entry into force

Date of last signature/deposit

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child

1 July 1990 29 November 1999 8 December 2020

Bamako Convention on the Ban of the Import into Africa and the Control of Transboundary Movement and Management of Hazardous Wastes within Africa

30 January 1991 22 April 1998 22 September 2020

Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community

3 June 1991 12 May 1994 13 November 2017

African Maritime Transport Charter

11 June 1994 30 days after deposit by two-thirds of the membership of the AU.

27 January 2012

The African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Pelindaba Treaty)

11 April 1996 15 July 2009 7 February 2020

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights

9 June 1998 25 January 2004 8 December 2020

OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism

14 July 1999 26 December 2002 24 May 2017

Constitutive Act of the African Union

11 July 2000 26 May 2001 31 January 2017

Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community Relating to the Pan-African Parliament

2 March 2001 14 December 2003 14 October 2018

Convention of the African Energy Commission

11 July 2001 13 December 2006 10 January 2019

Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council of the African Union

9 July 2002 26 December 2003 13 November 2017

Statute of the Commission of the African Union

9 July 2002 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

African Convention on the Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (Revised Version)

11 July 2003 11 July 2016 15 November 2020

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa

11 July 2003 25 November 2005 17 September 2019

Protocol of the Court of Justice of the African Union

11 July 2003 11 February 2009 11 May 2020

African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption

11 July 2003 5 August 2006 10 February 2020

238 Name of instrument Date of adoption Date of entry into force

Date of last signature/deposit

Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union

11 July 2003 30 days after deposit by two-thirds of the membership of the AU.

19 March 2018

Protocol to the OAU Convention on the Prevention and Combating of Terrorism

2 July 2004 26 February 2014 24 May 2017

Statute of the Economic, Social and Cultural Council of the African Union

08 July 2004 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

The African Union Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact

31 January 2005 18 December 2009 31 October 2017

Statute of the African Academy of Languages (ACALAN)

24 January 2006 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Charter for African Cultural Renaissance

24 January 2006 30 days after a two-thirds majority deposit of instruments of ratification.

16 December 2019

African Youth Charter 2 July 2006 8 August 2009 27 June 2019

African Charter on Democracy, Elections and Governance

30 January 2007 15 February 2012 27 June 2019

Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights

1 July 2008 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

11 May 2020

Statute of the African Union Commission on International Law (AUCIL)

4 February 2009 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

African Charter on Statistics 4 February 2009 8 February 2015 4 February 2019

Protocol on the African Investment Bank

4 February 2009 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

1 November 2018

African Union Convention for the Protection and Assistance of Internally Displaced Persons in Africa (Kampala Convention)

23 October 2009 6 December 2012 6 March 2020

Revised Constitution of the African Civil Aviation Commission

16 December 2009 11 May 2010 provisionally; definitely after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

15 December 2020

Revised African Maritime Transport Charter

26 July 2010 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

15 December 2020

African Charter on Values and Principles of Public Service and Administration

31 January 2011 23 July 2016 14 May 2019

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Name of instrument Date of adoption Date of entry into force

Date of last signature/deposit

Agreement for the Establishment of the African Risk Capacity (ARC) Agency

23 November 2012 23 November 2012 provisionally; definitely 30 days after deposit of 10th instrument of ratification.

16 March 2020

African Charter on the Values and Principles of Decentralisation, Local Governance and Local Development

27 June 2014 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

30 October 2019

African Union Convention on Cross-Border Cooperation (Niamey Convention)

27 June 2014 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

5 July 2019

Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights

27 June 2014 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

2 April 2019

Protocol on the Establishment of the African Monetary Fund and the Statute of the African Monetary Fund

27 June 2014 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification and the payment of at least 25 percent of the minimum paid-up capital.

28 June 2019

Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union relating to the Pan-African Parliament

27 June 2014 30 days after deposit of the 28th instrument of ratification (simple majority of Member States).

11 February 2019

African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection

27 June 2014 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

23 October 2020

Road Safety Charter 30 January 2016 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

16 July 2020

Statute of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC)

30 January 2016 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Statute of the African Union Sport Council

30 January 2016 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Statute of the African Minerals Development Centre

30 January 2016 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

26 June 2019

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Older Persons

30 January 2016 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

17 June 2020

Statute on the Establishment of Legal Aid Fund for the African Union Human Rights Organs

30 January 2016 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

240 Name of instrument Date of adoption Date of entry into force

Date of last signature/deposit

Statute of the African Scientific Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC)

30 January 2016 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Statute of the African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI)

30 January 2016 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Statute of the Pan-African Intellectual Property Organisation (PAIPO)

30 January 2016 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

19 June 2019

Revised Statute of the Pan African University

30 January 2016 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

African Charter on Maritime Security and Safety and Development (Lomé Charter)

15 October 2016 30 days after deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

26 September 2019

Statute of the African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL)

30 January 2017 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Statute of the Trust Fund for victims of Hissène Habré crimes

29 January 2018 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Statute of the African Institute for Remittances (AIR)

29 January 2018 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community relating to Free Movement of Persons, Right of Residence and Right of Establishment

29 January 2018 30 days after the deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

8 July 2019

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities in Africa

29 January 2018 30 days after the deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

Statute of the African Space Agency

29 January 2018 Entered into force upon adoption.

Does not require signature or ratification.

Regulatory and institutional texts for the implementation of the Yamoussoukro Decision and Framework Towards the Establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market

29 January 2018 Entered into force upon endorsement by the Assembly of Heads of State and Government.

Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area

21 March 2018 30 May 2019 5 December 2020

Treaty for the Establishment of the African Medicines Agency

11 February 2019 30 days after the deposit of the 15th instrument of ratification.

22 December 2020

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Appendix IV: Calendar of African Union days, years and decades

African Union days

Africa Environment and Wangari Maathai Day1 3 MarchAfrican Union Day of Commemoration of the 1994 Genocide

Against the Tutsi in Rwanda 7 April Day of the Battle of Cuito Cuanavale 23 AprilAfrica Day 25 MayAfrica Border Day 7 JuneAfrica Child Day 16 JuneAfrican Refugee Day/World Refugee Day 20 JuneAfrican Public Service Day 23 JuneDay of Africa’s Scientific Renaissance 30 JuneAfrican Integration Day 7 JulyAfrican Anti-Corruption Day 11 JulyAfrica Day of Seas and Oceans 25 JulyAfrica’s Women’s Day 31 JulyAfrica Day of Decentralisation and Local Development 10 AugustCivil Registration and Vital Statistics Day 10 AugustAfrican Traditional Medicine Day 31 AugustAfrican Union Day 9 September Africa Human Rights Day 21 OctoberAfrica Food Security and Nutrition Day 30 OctoberAfrica Youth Day 1 November African Statistics Day 18 NovemberAfrica Industrialisation Day 20 November Africa Telecommunications and ICT Day 7 DecemberDay of African Sport 14 December

African Union years

Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want 2021Silencing the Guns: Creating Conducive Conditions for Africa’s Development 2020Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa:

Towards Durable Solutions to Forced Displacement 2019Winning the Fight Against Corruption: A Sustainable Path to Africa’s Transformation 2018Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investments in the Youth 2017African Year of Human Rights with Particular Focus on the Rights of Women 2016Women Empowerment and Development towards Africa’s Agenda 2063 2015Year of Agriculture and Food Security 2014Pan Africanism and African Renaissance 2013

Note1 Wangari Maathai, Kenya, was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize in 2004 for her contribution to sustainable development,

democracy and peace. She died in 2011.

242

Appendix V: African Union Anthem

Let us all unite and celebrate together The victories won for our liberation Let us dedicate ourselves to rise together To defend our liberty and unity

O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life

Let us all unite and sing together To uphold the bonds that frame our destiny Let us dedicate ourselves to fight together For lasting peace and justice on earth

O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life

Let us all unite and toil together To give the best we have to Africa The cradle of mankind and fount of culture Our pride and hope at break of dawn

O Sons and Daughters of Africa Flesh of the Sun and Flesh of the Sky Let us make Africa the Tree of Life

NoteThe Anthem is available in other languages on the AU website www.au.int (follow the tab ‘Who we are’).

African Union decades

Decade of African Roots and Diasporas 2021–31 Decade of Women’s Financial and Economic Inclusion 2020–30African Decade for Technical, Professional and

Entrepreneurial Training and Youth Employment 2018–27Decade on Civil Registration and Vital Statistics 2017–26 Second Decade of Education for Africa 2015–25Decade of African Seas and Oceans 2015–25Madiba Nelson Mandela Decade of Reconciliation in Africa 2014–24Africa’s Decade of Sustainable Energy 2014–24African Union Decade of Women 2010–20Second African Decade of Persons with Disabilities 2010–19

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

ACRONYMS

244 ACRONYMSA

AAA Initiative for the Adaptation of African AgricultureAACB Association of African Central BanksAACC African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission AAI African Adaptation InitiativeAASC Association of African Sport ConfederationsACALAN African Academy of LanguagesACB African Central Bank ACBF African Capacity Building FoundationACERWC African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildACHPR African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights ACIRC African Capacity for Immediate Response to CrisesACP African, Caribbean and PacificACRWC African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the ChildACSRT African Centre for the Study and Research on TerrorismADF African Development FundAEC African Economic Community AEIS Africa Energy Information SystemAES African Environmental SocietyAfBC African Business CouncilAFCAC African Civil Aviation CommissionAfCFTA African Continental Free Trade AreaAfCHPR African Court on Human and Peoples’ RightsAFCONE African Commission on Nuclear EnergyAfDB African Development Bank AFISMA African Union-led International Support Mission in MaliAFRAA African Airlines AssociationAFREC African Energy CommissionAfrica CDC Africa Centres for Disease Control and PreventionAFRIPOL African Union Mechanism for Police CooperationAFSECOM African Police Communication SystemAfSS African Statistical SystemAGA African Governance ArchitectureAGOA African Growth Opportunity ActAGROST African Group on Statistical TrainingAHRM Administration and Human Resources Management (Directorate of)

(AUC prior to 2021)AIB African Investment BankAIDA Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa AIHSRN African integrated high-speed train network AIR African Institute for RemittancesAJOC Abyei Joint Oversight CommitteeALMA African Leaders Malaria AllianceAMCEN African Ministerial Conference on the EnvironmentAMDC African Minerals Development CentreAMF African Monetary Fund

245

Acr

onym

s

AMIB African Union Mission in BurundiAMIS African Union Mission in SudanAMISEC African Union Mission for Support to the Elections in ComorosAMISOM African Union Mission in SomaliaAMOT AU Ministers of TradeAMV Africa Mining VisionANOCA Association of National Olympic Committees of AfricaAOC Audit Operations CommitteeAOMA African Ombudsman and Mediators AssociationAOSTI African Observatory of Science, Technology and InnovationAPR African Peer Review APRM African Peer Review Mechanism APSA African Peace and Security ArchitectureAPUA Association of Power Utility for Africa ARBE Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable

EnvironmentARC African Risk CapacityAREI African Renewable Energy InitiativeARI African Rehabilitation InstituteASACOF Africa–South America Cooperation ForumASECNA Agency for the Safety of Air Navigation in Africa and MadagascarASF African Standby ForceASRIC African Scientific, Research and Innovation CouncilATU African Telecommunications UnionAU African UnionAUABC African Union Advisory Board on CorruptionAUAMOT African Union African Ministers of TradeAU BoEA African Union Board of External AuditorsAUBP African Union Border Programme AUC African Union CommissionAU/CIEFFA African Union/International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education

in AfricaAUCIL African Union Commission on International LawAUCPCRD African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and DevelopmentAUDA-NEPAD African Union Development AgencyAU-EDC African Union Education Data CentreAUHIP African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (for Sudan and

South Sudan)AU–IBAR African Union–Inter-African Bureau for Animal ResourcesAU–IAPSC African Union–Inter-African Phytosanitary CouncilAU MSU African Union Mediation Support UnitAUNS African Union Network of SciencesAUPD African Union High-Level Panel on DarfurAUSC African Union Sport Council AU-STRC African Union Scientific, Technical and Research CommissionAUTSTG African Union Technical Support Team to GambiaAWA AIDS Watch AfricaAWD African Women’s DecadeAWLN African Women Leadership Network

246 B

BEAC Bank of Central African StatesBIAT Boosting Intra-African Trade

C

C10 Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government Champions for Education, Science and Technology in Africa

C–10 Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council

CAADP Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development ProgrammeCAHOSCC Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate ChangeCAPA Committee on Audit and Public AccountsCBOs Community-based organisationsCELHTO Centre for Linguistic and Historical Studies by Oral Tradition

(French acronym)CEN–SAD Community of Sahel–Saharan States CESA Continental Education Strategy for AfricaCEWS Continental Early Warning SystemCIDO Citizens and Diaspora DirectorateCIEFFA International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa CISSA Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of AfricaCLB Continental Logistics BaseCME Continuous medical educationCMPCRD Crisis Management and Post-Conflict Reconstruction DevelopmentCOMEDAF Conference of Ministers of EducationCOMESA Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa CONOPs Concept of OperationsCSCPF Continental Structural Conflict Prevention FrameworkCSOs Civil society organisations CSVMS Country Structural Vulnerability Mitigation StrategiesCSVRA Country Structural Vulnerability and Resilience Assessment

D

DCMP Directorate of Conference Management and Publications DIC Directorate of Information and Communication (AUC prior to 2021)DPA Department of Political Affairs (AUC prior to 2021)DREA Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (AUC prior to 2021)DSS Detailed scoping studyDTI Department of Trade and Industry (AUC prior to 2021)

E

EAC East African CommunityEAC Extraordinary African Chambers EACDS Eastern Africa Committee of Chiefs of Defence StaffEAP Encyclopaedia Africana ProjectEASF Eastern Africa Standby Force EASFCOM Eastern Africa Standby Force Coordination MechanismEBID ECOWAS Bank for Investment and Development

247

Acr

onym

s

ECA Economic Commission for Africa (UN)ECCAS Economic Community of Central African States ECOSOC Economic and Social Council (UN)ECOSOCC Economic, Social and Cultural Council (AU) ECOWAS Economic Community of West African States ECREEE ECOWAS Centre for Renewable Energy and Energy EfficiencyEGDC ECOWAS Gender Development CentreEMIS Education Management Information SystemERERA ECOWAS Regional Electricity Regulatory Authority ERP Enterprises and Resource PlanningESCC Economic, Social and Cultural Council (CEN–SAD)ESF ECOWAS Standby ForceESTI Education, Science, Technology and InnovationETIM Economic Development, Trade, Industry and MiningEU European Union EUROPOL European Union Agency for Law Enforcement CooperationEYSDC ECOWAS Youth and Sports Development Centre

F

F15 Committee of Fifteen Ministers of FinanceF15SC F15 Secretariat and Contribution UnitFAEO Federation of African Engineering OrganisationsFAO Food and Agriculture OrganizationFAW Fund for African WomenFC–G5S G5 Sahel Joint Force (French acronym) FemWise-Africa Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and MediationFOCAC Forum on China–Africa Cooperation FRR Financial Rules and RegulationsFTYIP First Ten-Year Implementation Plan

G

G5 Sahel Group of Five Sahel StatesGAF Gambia Armed ForcesGCF Green Climate FundGIABA Inter-Governmental Action Group against Money Laundering

and Terrorism Financing in West Africa (French acronym)

H

HATC High-Level Committee on African TradeHCSS Hybrid Court for South SudanHHS Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social DevelopmentHRMD Human Resources Management DirectorateHRMOM Human Rights and Military Observers Mission (in Burundi)HROs Human rights observersHRST Human Resources, Science and Technology (AUC prior to 2021)HSGIC Heads of State and Government Implementation CommitteeHSGOC Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee

248 I

IAPSC Inter-African Phytosanitary CouncilIATA International Air Transport AssociationIBAR Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU)IBF IGAD Business ForumICAO International Civil Aviation OrganizationICC International Criminal CourtICD Information and Communication DirectorateICGLR International Conference on the Great Lakes RegionICJ International Court of JusticeICPO-INTERPOL International Criminal Police OrganizationICRC International Committee of the Red Cross ICT Information communications technologyIDDRSI IGAD Drought Disaster Resilience and Sustainability InitiativeIDEP Institute of Economic Development and Planning (French acronym)IDPs Internally displaced personsIE Infrastructure and EnergyIFAD International Fund for Agricultural Development IFF Illicit financial flowsIFRC International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent SocietiesIGAD Intergovernmental Authority on Development ILO International Labour OrganizationILRI International Livestock Research Institute IMF International Monetary FundInternational IDEA International Institute for Democracy and Electoral AssistanceINTERPOL International Criminal Police OrganizationIOM International Organization for MigrationIPED Pan African Institute for Education for Development IPF IGAD Partners ForumIPU–IGAD Inter-Parliamentary Union–IGADIRA Interim Regional AdministrationISC Intelligence and Security Committee (AUC prior to 2021)ISCTRC International Scientific Council of Trypanosomiasis Research and ControlISDS Investor–State Dispute SettlementITU International Telecommunication Union

J

JSSO Joint Secretariat Support Office

L

LAS League of Arab StatesLCBC Lake Chad Basin Commission

M

MAES African Union Electoral and Security Assistance Mission to the ComorosMEs Military expertsMHSD Medical and Health Services Directorate

249

Acr

onym

s

MICOPAX Mission for the Consolidation of Peace in the Central African RepublicMILOBs Military ObserversMINUSCA Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central

African Republic (UN)MINUSMA Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (UN)MIS Management of Information Services DivisionMISAHEL Mission for Mali and SahelMISCA International Support Mission in the Central African Republic

(French acronym)MNJTF Multinational Joint Task ForceMoI Memorandum of implementationMoU Memorandum of understandingMST Mission support teamMW Megawatts

N

NARC North African Regional CapabilityNEPAD New Partnership for Africa’s Development NGOs Non-governmental organisations NHRIs National human rights institutions NPCA NEPAD Planning and Coordinating Agency NTBs Non-tariff barriersNTF Nigeria Trust Fund

O

OACPS Organization of African, Caribbean and Pacific StatesOAU Organization of African Unity ODeL Open, distance and e-learningOHCHR Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human RightsOIA Office of Internal Audit (AUC prior to 2021)OIE World Organisation for Animal Health (French acronym)OIF Organisation Internationale de la FrancophonieOIO Office of Internal OversightOLC Office of the Legal CounselOSAA Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UN)OSC Office of the Secretary to the CommissionOSPD Office of Strategic Planning and DeliveryOSSD Operations Support Services Directorate

P

PAeN Pan-African e-NetworkPAIDA Partnership on Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda (AU–UN)PAIPO Pan-African Intellectual Property OrganizationPANASTAT or PANSTAT

African Training Centre on Statistics

PANVAC Pan African Veterinary Vaccine CentrePanWise Pan-African Network of the Wise

250 PAP Pan-African Parliament PAPS Political Affairs, Peace and SecurityPAPU Pan African Postal UnionPASE Pan African Stock ExchangePATTEC Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication CampaignPAU Pan African UniversityPAUGHSS Institute for Governance, Humanities and Social SciencesPAULESI Institute for Life and Earth Sciences (including Health and Agriculture)PAUSS Institute for Space Sciences PAUSTI Institute for Basic Sciences, Technology and InnovationPAUWES Institute for Water and Energy Sciences (including Climate Change)PAVeU Pan African Virtual and e-UniversityPAWO Pan African Women’s Organization PBFA Programming, Budget, Finance and Accounting (Directorate of)

(AUC prior to 2021)PCRD Post-Conflict Reconstruction and DevelopmentPFS Peace Fund SecretariatPIDA Programme for Infrastructure Development in AfricaPLANELM Planning ElementPMCD Partnership Management and Coordination Division (AUC prior to 2021)PMRM Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation DirectoratePOW Panel of the WisePPDU Projects Preparation and Development Unit (ECOWAS)PRC Permanent Representatives Committee PSC Peace and Security Council PSD Peace and Security Department (AUC prior to 2021)PSOD Peace Support Operations DivisionPSOs Peace support operationsPSSG Police Strategic Support GroupPTA Preferential Trade AreaPTC Permanent Tripartite Commission

R

RAAF Regional Agency for Agriculture and FoodRCCs Regional Collaborating CentresRCI-LRA Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the

Lord’s Resistance ArmyRCM Regional Coordination MechanismRCMs Regional coordination meetingsRDC Rapid Deployment CapabilityRECs Regional Economic CommunitiesRECSA Regional Centre on Small Arms and Light WeaponsRIU Reform Implementation UnitRLDs Regional Logistics Depots RMs Regional Mechanisms

S

SAATM Single African Air Transport MarketSADC Southern African Development Community

251

Acr

onym

s

SADCC Southern African Development Co-ordination ConferenceSAFGRAD Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and DevelopmentSARO Southern Africa Region OfficeSBoEA Secretariat to the Board of External AuditorsSCSA Supreme Council for Sport in AfricaSDGEA Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in AfricaSDGs Sustainable Development GoalsSHaSA 2 Strategy for the Harmonisation of Statistics in AfricaSNCs SADC National CommitteesSPPMERM Strategic Policy Planning, Monitoring, Evaluation and Resource

Mobilisation (Directorate of) (AUC prior to 2021)SSS Security and safety servicesSTATAFRIC AU Institute for StatisticsSTC Specialised Technical Committee STC-ARDWE STC on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and EnvironmentSTCDSS STC on Defence, Safety and SecuritySTC-TTIIET STC on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure,

Energy and Tourism STEAM Science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematicsSTI Science, technology and innovationSTISA-2024 Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa 2024STP Somali Transition PlanSTRC Scientific, Technical and Research Commission

T

T&T Tsetse and trypanosomiasisTA Technical assistanceTB TuberculosisTCCA Technical Cooperation Committee in AfricaTICAD Tokyo International Conference on African DevelopmentTOR Terms of referenceTVET Technical and vocational education and trainingTYCBP–AU Ten-year capacity building programme for the African Union

U

UAE United Arab Emirates UK United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland UMA Arab Maghreb Union (French acronym)UN United NationsUNAIDS United Nations Joint Programme on HIV/AIDSUNAMID African Union–United Nations Mission in DarfurUNCDF United Nations Capital Development FundUNCTAD United Nations Conference on Trade and DevelopmentUNDCO United Nations Development Coordination OfficeUNDP United Nations Development Programme UNDRR United Nations Office for Disaster Risk ReductionUNDSS United Nations Department of Safety and Security UNECA United Nations Economic Commission for AfricaUNEP United Nations Environment Programme

252 UNESCO United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural OrganizationUNFPA United Nations Population FundUN-Habitat United Nations Human Settlements ProgrammeUNHCR United Nations High Commissioner for RefugeesUNICEF United Nations Children’s FundUNIDO United Nations Industrial Development OrganizationUNMIS United Nations Mission in SudanUNOAU United Nations Office to the African UnionUNOCHA United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian AffairsUNODC United Nations Office on Drugs and CrimeUNOPS United Nations Office for Project ServicesUNOSAA United Nations Office of the Special Adviser on AfricaUNRCO United Nations Resident Coordinator OfficeUNSC United Nations Security CouncilUN-Women United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment

of WomenUPU Universal Postal UnionUSA United States of AmericaUSAU US Mission to the African Union

W

WAHO West African Health Organisation WAMA West African Monetary AgencyWAMI West African Monetary InstituteWAPP West African Power PoolWEC World Energy CouncilWFP World Food ProgrammeWFP-LO World Food Programme Liaison OfficeWGDD Women, Gender and Development (Directorate of) (AUC prior to 2021)WGYD Women, Gender and Youth DirectorateWHO World Health OrganizationWMO World Metrological OrganizationWTO World Trade Organization

AFRICAN UNION HANDBOOK 2021

INDEX

254 INDEXBold page numbers refer to the main entry.

A

Abuja Treaty (establishing the African Economic Community) 16, 18, 66, 120, 144, 145, 152, 153

Abyei Joint Oversight Committee (AJOC) 78

academia 22, 23, 83, 175, 176, 196

Accelerated Industrial Development of Africa (AIDA) 36, 71, 105

accountability 24, 28, 46, 63, 78, 98, 104, 194, 199, 206, 220

accounting 52, 98, 103

Action Plan for Boosting Intra-African Trade (BIAT) 36

Administrative Tribunal 98, 99

advocacy 9, 45, 71, 82, 100, 101, 108, 124, 173, 194

Africa Adaptation Initiative 36

Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) 9, 107, 193–194, 217

Africa Emergency Ventilator Project 9

Africa Health Strategy 195

Africa Medical Supplies Platform 7, 9

Africa Mining Vision (AMV) 71, 105, 184

Africa Outer Space Programme 24–25, 106

Africa Taskforce on Coronavirus 7

Africa–India Partnership 211Africa–Korea 211–212Africa–League of Arab States (LAS) 209Africa–South America Cooperation Forum (ASACOF) 210

Africa–Turkey Partnership 211Africa50 208African Academy of Languages (ACALAN) 107, 196

African Airlines Association (AFRAA) 178–179

African Audiovisual and Cinema Commission (AACC) 10, 68, 198

African Business Council 9, 29

African Capacity Building Foundation (ACBF) 149, 198–199, 212, 218

African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crises (ACIRC) 86

African Central Bank (ACB) 25, 144African Centre for the Study and Research on Terrorism (ACSRT) 107, 192

African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights (Banjul Charter) 15, 130, 131, 132, 135

African Charter on Statistics 169, 174

African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of the Child 135, 139–140

African Civil Aviation Commission (AFCAC) 25, 177–178, 179

African Climate Commission 36

African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) 27, 75, 130–132, 216

African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE) 183–184

African Committee of Experts on the Rights and Welfare of the Child (ACERWC) 107, 139–140, 216

African Commodities Strategy 22African common market 18

African Common Positions 15, 35, 67, 68, 71, 107, 185

African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 8, 9, 23, 29–30, 36, 39, 105, 206

Secretariat 168–169, 218

African Court of Justice/African Court of Justice and Human Rights 134–135

African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights (AfCHPR) 27, 99, 132–134, 216

African Development Bank (AfDB) 22, 36, 42, 59, 111, 149, 153, 183 197, 203, 207, 208

Group 206–207African Development Fund (ADF) 207African Economic Community (AEC) 18, 152

African Economic Forum/Platform 22–23African Energy Commission (AFREC) 182–183, 217

African Games 198

255

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African Governance Architecture (AGA) 79, 82, 107

African Group on Statistical Training (AGROST) 170

African Growth Opportunity Act (AGOA) 210

African Human Rights Day 131, 241

African Institute for Remittances (AIR) 107, 197, 217

African Integrated High-Speed Train Network (AIHSRN) 21–22

African Integrated Maritime Strategy 99

African Investment Bank (AIB) 25, 144–145African Islands Climate Commission 36

African Leaders Malaria Alliance (ALMA) 40

African Minerals Development Centre (AMDC) 184

African Ministerial Conference on the Environment (AMCEN) 35

African Monetary Fund (AMF) 25, 144, 145African Monetary Institute 144

African Nuclear-Weapon-Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) 183, 184

African Observatory for Education 71, 106, 176–177

African Observatory of Science, Technology and Innovation (AOSTI) 71, 106, 174, 217

African Passport 23

African Peace and Security Architecture (APSA) 74, 79–91, 107, 112

African Peer Review Mechanism (APRM) 27, 148–150, 217

Forum 149Panel of Eminent Persons 149, 150

African Police Communication System (AFSECOM) 193

African Renewable Energy Initiative (AREI) 36

African Risk Capacity (ARC) 189–190African Scientific, Research and Innovation Council (ASRIC) 173–174, 218

African Space Agency 25

African Sport Architecture 198

African Standby Force (ASF) 70, 72, 75, 79, 84–86, 165, 166

African Telecommunications Union (ATU) 180–181

African Trade Observatory 23, 29

African Training Centre on Statistics 170, 218

African Union Anthem 17, 242 days, years and decades 7, 8, 10, 11, 131, 172, 175, 241–242

history of 16 legal instruments 236–240members 5–6 objectives 15, 84, 120, 126 observers 20 reform of 9, 27–28, 32, 38, 39, 42, 50, 60, 84, 98, 102, 104, 110, 153

structure 12, 17–20symbols of 16–17 vision 15, 16, 69, 106, 126, 203

African Union Board of External Auditors (AU BoEA) 50, 53, 116–117, 124

Secretariat to 104African Union Border Programme (AUBP) 70

African Union Centre for Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (AUPCRD) 91, 218

African Union Champions 39–40, 144

African Union Child Protection Architecture 79

African Union Commission (AUC) 17, 75, 79, 94–117, 170, 175, 194, 199, 203, 211, 216, 218

Cabinet of the Chairperson 13, 27, 97–102, 111

Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson 13, 102–104

Chairperson 9–10, 13, 17, 28, 32, 87, 94, 95, 96, 97– 102

Commissioners 13, 17, 28, 32, 78, 83, 94, 95, 96, 105–107

departments 13, 66, 94, 97, 101, 102, 105–107, 127, 199

Deputy Chairperson 13, 17, 28, 32, 94, 95, 97, 102–104

directorates 13, 97, 98, 100–104 high representatives, special envoys and special representatives of the Chairperson 84, 115–116, 164, 192

membership of other bodies 127, 153, 183, 185, 197, 199

permanent representational and specialised offices 111–112, 194

special representative and liaison offices 78, 112–114, 152, 161, 164, 191

structure 13, 17, 27–28, 32, 42, 94–107

256 African Union Commission–United States of America High-Level Dialogue 210

African Union Convention on Cyber Security and Personal Data Protection 26

African Union Convention on Preventing and Combating Corruption 137–138

African Union COVID-19 Response Fund 7, 9

African Union Education Data Centre (AU-EDC) 176

African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD) 9, 22, 56, 106, 109–111, 206, 216

Heads of State and Government Orientation Committee (HSGOC) 38, 111

Steering Committee 111 Sub-Committee on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 56–57, 102

Unit 102African Union Electoral and Security Assistance Mission to the Comoros (MAES) 90

African Union Foundation 108African Union High-Level Implementation Panel (AUHIP) for Sudan and South Sudan 78, 115

African Union Inter-African Phytosanitary Council (AU–APSC) 105, 186–187

African Union-led International Support Mission in the Central African Republic (MISCA) 89

African Union-led International Support Mission in Mali (AFISMA) 90

African Union liaison offices 112–114African Union Mechanism for Police Cooperation (AFRIPOL) 102, 107, 193, 217

African Union Mediation Support Unit (AU MSU) 82–83

African Union Mission for Mali and Sahel (MISAHEL) 114

African Union Mission for Support to the Elections in Comoros (AMISEC) 90

African Union Mission in Burundi (AMIB) 90

African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) 87–88, 114, 219

African Union Mission in Sudan (AMIS) 78, 90

African Union Non-Aggression and Common Defence Pact 136

African Union of Railways 22

African Union Permanent Mission to China – Beijing Office 112

African Union Police Strategic Support Group (PSSG) 90

African Union Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (AU-STRC) 172–173, 174, 185

African Union Southern Africa Region Office (SARO) 112

African Union Sport Council (AUSC) 198, 217

African Union Technical Support Team to Gambia (AUTSTG) 88

African Union–European Union Partnership 209

African Union–Inter-African Bureau for Animal Resources (AU–IBAR) 105, 185–186, 194

African Union/International Centre for Girls’ and Women’s Education in Africa (AU/CIEFFA) 106, 171, 217

African Union–United Nations Mission in Darfur (UNAMID) 89, 90

African Women Leadership Network (AWLN) 9

African Youth Charter 68

Agenda 2030 (UN) 169, 199, 200

Agenda 2063 (AU) 7, 8, 9, 10, 15, 21–26, 108, 152, 177, 200, 202

contributions to 27, 37, 38, 39, 46, 97, 99, 105, 106, 108, 109, 110, 111, 148, 169, 171, 172, 199, 202, 206, 211

flagship projects 8, 10, 21–26, 39, 72, 106, 144, 145, 168

Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) 23

see also African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

Agreement for the Establishment of the African Risk Capacity Agency (ARC Treaty) 190

agriculture 7, 22, 30, 39, 42, 70, 124, 156, 172, 175, 185–187, 206, 209, 211

work of AUC 96, 105, 111, 185–189work of Regional Economic Communities 156, 161, 162

Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), Department of 105, 185, 187, 188, 189

257

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AIDS 172, 194–195

AIDS Watch Africa (AWA) 194–195animals 70, 185–186, 190

diseases of 185, 188

Arab Maghreb Union (UMA) 18, 152, 153–154

Architecture for Culture Development in Africa 68

Architecture for Sport Development 68

armed conflicts see conflicts

arts 8, 10, 11, 40, 171

Assembly of Heads of State and Government 16, 17, 32–40, 42, 45, 50, 56, 62, 68, 74, 85, 87, 98, 99, 102

chairpersons 33–34, 140, 195high-level committees 35–38roles and responsibilities 32, 52, 66, 70, 75, 80, 94, 95, 96, 121, 130, 133, 135, 136, 138, 139, 168, 169, 176, 214

Association of African Central Banks (AACB) 144, 197

Association of African Sport Confederations (AASC) 198

Association of African Statisticians 170

Association of National Olympic Committees of Africa (ANOCA) 198

Association of Power Utility for Africa (APUA) 183

AU Advisory Board on Corruption (AUABC) 27, 137–138, 216

AU African Ministers of Trade (AUAMOT) see AU Ministers of Trade

AU Appointment, Promotion and Recruitment Board (APROB) 99

AU budget 28–29, 84, 111, 116, 214–219responsibilities for 27, 32, 45, 50, 52, 94, 95, 103, 104, 120, 123, 214

see also contributions; scale of assessment

AU Commission on International Law (AUCIL) 135–137, 216

AU Constitutive Act see Constitutive Act of the African Union

AU Human Rights Observers and Military Experts Mission in Burundi 89, 219

AU Institute for Statistics (STATAFRIC) 169–170, 218

AU Ministers of Trade (AMOT or AUAMOT) 29, 36, 169

AU Reform Implementation Unit 102AU–UN Framework for the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development 202

AUC see African Union Commission

AUDA-NEPAD see African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

audiovisual industry 68, 195, 198

auditing 22, 50, 53, 97–98, 104, 116–117, 124

aviation 106, 177–179single market 25, 39, 72, 177

B

Banjul Charter 15, 130, 131, 132, 135

Bank of Central African States (BEAC) 197

Boko Haram 88

border issues 78, 115, 123

budget see AU budget

Burundi 89, 90, 112, 164, 219

C

Cabinet of the Chairperson of the AU Commission 13, 27, 97–102, 111

Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission 13, 102–104

calendar of AU days, years and decades 241–242

capacity building 68, 69, 82, 83, 170, 173, 176, 177, 182, 187, 192, 194, 198–199, 205

work of AUC 26, 102, 104, 106, 109, 110

CEN–SAD 19, 152, 156–157

Centre for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women 203

Centre for Linguistic and Historical Studies by Oral Tradition (CELHTO) 107, 195

Chad 114, 135

Chairperson of the AU Commission 9–10, 13, 17, 28, 32, 87, 94, 95, 96, 97–102

appointments by 131, 164, 176, 192Cabinet of the Chairperson 13, 27, 97–102, 111

high representatives, special envoys and special representatives 81, 84, 115–116, 164, 192

roles and responsibilities 43, 59, 76, 79, 80, 84, 95, 97, 101, 108, 152, 153

258 Charter for the African Cultural Renaissance 10, 68

children 21, 39, 79, 107, 110, 126, 139–140, 200

Citizens and Diaspora Directorate (CIDO) 104civil society 22, 84, 104, 126, 195, 209

civil society organisations (CSOs) 75, 83, 126, 127, 171, 195

climate change 35–36, 40, 70, 79, 101, 105, 172, 173, 187, 203

COMESA 19, 81, 152, 155–156Committee of African Heads of State and Government on Climate Change (CAHOSCC) 35–36

Committee of Experts (of the PSC) 77

Committee of Fifteen Ministers of Finance (F15) 28, 57, 104, 214

Committee of Intelligence and Security Services of Africa (CISSA) 190–191

Liaison Unit 13, 101–102Committee of Senior Trade Officials 168, 169

Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government Champions for Education, Science and Technology in Africa 37

Committee of Ten Heads of State and Government on the Reform of the United Nations Security Council (C–10) 35, 107

Common African Defence and Security Policy 70

Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) 19, 81, 152, 155–156

common positions 15, 71, 94, 209see also African Common Positions

communication 50, 56, 100, 101, 124, 193, 198

see also information communications technology

Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD) 19, 152, 156–157

Comprehensive Africa Agriculture Development Programme (CAADP) 39

Conference of African Ministers of Agriculture 187

Conference of Ministers of Education (COMEDAF) 175, 177

Conference of Ministers Responsible for Economy and Finance 67, 170, 204

conference services 57, 103

conflicts, responses to 7, 24, 32, 106–107, 123, 135, 148, 152, 163, 164, 195, 205

by Peace and Security Council 17, 32, 74, 75, 78, 79, 80, 82, 83, 85, 86

see also disputes, responses to

Congo Basin Climate Commission 36

Constitutive Act of the African Union 15, 16, 32, 66, 74, 94, 99, 104, 135, 152, 224–232

Protocol on Amendments to 15, 233–235Continental Early Warning System (CEWS) 70, 75, 79, 83

Continental Education Strategy for Africa (CESA 16–25) 37, 70

Continental Financial Institutions 25, 144–145Continental Strategy for Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) 37, 70

Continental Structural Conflict Prevention Framework (CSCPF) 83

contributions 28, 45, 75, 84, 87, 104, 108, 111, 220

corruption, responses to 9, 40, 69, 137–138Cotonou Agreement 209

Council of Ministers for Trade 168, 169

COVID-19 pandemicimpact of 9, 10, 29, 33, 67, 68, 153, 182, 191, 209, 212

responses to 7, 39, 115, 173, 188, 194, 206, 210

creative industry 8, 10see also arts

crime, responses to 70, 89, 99, 101, 135, 193

crimes against humanity 74

crisis see emergency/crisis situations

culture 8, 10, 21, 25, 40, 68, 107, 120, 123, 127, 154, 156, 195, 211

currency 144, 145

customs 29, 123, 158, 162, 168

cybersecurity 24, 26, 70, 193

D

Darfur 89, 116

data capabilities 26, 71, 83, 98, 100, 109, 110, 174, 176, 182, 192, 193, 197, 203

Declaration of Solemn Commitment towards the establishment of a Single African Air Transport Market 177

defence 15, 24, 70, 74, 88, 164, 165

259

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democracy 16, 21, 62, 106, 107, 120, 148, 165, 210

principles of 15, 74, 126, 163, 198

Democratic Republic of Congo 87, 194

Department of Political Affairs (DPA) 82see also Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Department of

Department of Rural Economy and Agriculture (DREA) 185

see also Agriculture, Rural Development, Blue Economy and Sustainable Environment (ARBE), Department of

Deputy Chairperson of the AU Commission 13, 17, 28, 32, 94, 95, 97, 102–104

Cabinet of the Deputy Chairperson 13, 102–104

desertification 187

development 16, 69, 97, 100, 106, 107, 159, 174, 175, 183, 184, 192, 195, 196, 198, 200, 202, 203, 206, 210

economic 21, 22, 27, 67, 96, 108, 110, 120, 155, 163, 165, 170, 178, 180, 202, 206

human 7, 22, 106, 108, 110, 175in Agenda 2063 10, 21–26, 27, 97, 106, 108, 110, 168

rural 70, 96, 105, 187, 189, 211social 67, 96, 106, 170, 180, 198, 202socio-economic 8, 21, 25, 50, 56, 148, 173, 183, 197, 200

sustainable 7, 8, 15, 21, 29, 56, 105, 106, 107, 148, 155, 157, 160, 162, 163, 164, 168, 174, 177, 199

women and gender 39, 161work of Peace and Security Council 78, 79, 87, 91

work of Regional Economic Communities 152, 154, 155, 157, 158, 159, 160, 162, 163

youth 21, 100, 108, 161see also African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

diaspora 9, 15, 20, 71, 104, 108, 127, 195, 197

digital economy 109, 180, 181

diplomacy 7, 9, 26, 30, 81, 84, 95, 154, 164, 184

Director-General of the AU Commission 97, 102

Directorate of Conference Management and Publications (DCMP) 58, 103

Directorate of Women, Gender and Development (WGDD) 172

Directorate, Citizens and Diaspora (CIDO) 104Directorate, Ethics, Integrity and Standards (EISD) 98

Directorate, Finance 45, 58, 103, 104

Directorate, Human Resources Management (HRMD) 102

Directorate, Information and Communication (ICD) 8, 14, 101

Directorate, Medical and Health Services (MHSD) 104

Directorate, Operations Support Services (OSSD) 103

Directorate, Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation (PMRM) 100

Directorate, Women, Gender and Youth (WGYD) 100

disability 42, 67, 123

disarmament 74, 85, 183

disaster management 24, 72 see also natural disasters

diseases 15, 87, 107, 193–195see also animals; COVID-19 pandemic

displaced persons 40, 58, 72

disputes, responses to 74, 81, 85, 99, 132, 135

see also conflicts, responses to

Drafting Committee (PRC) 62

droughts, responses to 59, 162, 163, 187, 189

drug control 68, 107, 154

E

EAC 19, 29, 152, 157–158

early warning 70, 74, 83, 101, 106, 148, 163, 192

East African Community (EAC) 19, 29, 152, 157–158

Eastern Africa Standby Force (EASF) 85, 86Secretariat 152, 165

Ebola virus 87, 194

ECCAS 19, 85, 86, 152, 159–160, 212

economic activities 54, 67, 96, 101, 105, 110, 120, 123, 145, 148, 152–165, 171, 172, 188, 197, 203, 206, 209, 211

see also development; growth; integration

260 economic bodies 168–170Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) 19, 85, 86, 152, 159–160, 212

Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) 19, 29, 81, 85, 86, 90, 152, 160–161

Economic Development, Trade, Industry and Mining (ETIM), Department of 105, 184

Economic, Social and Cultural Council (ECOSOCC) 126–128, 216

economyblue 96, 105, 211digital 109, 180, 181global 15, 16, 110knowledge 69rural 105, 124, 144, 186

ECOWAS 19, 29, 81, 85, 86, 90, 152, 160–161

education 22, 23, 37, 68, 70–71, 96, 100, 105–106, 123, 154, 156, 171, 175–177, 196, 199, 211

education, human resources, science and technology bodies 171–177

Education Management Information System (EMIS) 176

Education, Science, Technology and Innovation (ESTI), Department of 105–106, 171, 173, 174, 176, 177

elections 90, 99, 120, 121

electricity 24, 161

emergency/crisis situations 59, 74, 79, 84, 86, 101, 130, 131, 171, 189, 193

employment 8, 67, 105, 107

Encyclopaedia Africana Project (EAP) 26energy 22, 24, 42, 72, 96, 105, 106, 109, 110, 124, 156, 175, 182–184, 211

energy and infrastructure bodies 72, 106, 124, 155, 161, 177–184

Enterprises and Resource Planning (ERP) Unit 103

entrepreneurship 22, 108, 172, 199

environment 42, 62, 70, 96, 101, 105, 109, 110, 124, 162, 172, 174, 180, 211

epidemic response 72see also COVID-19 pandemic

Ethics, Integrity and Standards Directorate (EISD) 98

European Commission 197

European Union 88–89, 115, 161, 212Agency for Law Enforcement Cooperation (EUROPOL) 193

Executive Council 17, 32, 42–47, 50, 58, 59, 62, 68, 70, 78, 95, 98, 99, 153, 169

chairpersons 42, 43committees 44–47 roles and responsibilities 17, 27, 28, 33, 42, 52, 66, 75, 94, 96, 116, 117, 130, 131, 133, 136, 138, 140, 152, 176, 214

Extraordinary African Chambers (EAC) 135

Ezulwini Consensus 35

F

F15 Secretariat and Contribution Unit (F15SC) 104

fact-finding missions 80, 81

famine relief 59

finance 24, 50, 52–53, 57, 67, 95, 97–98, 102, 103, 104, 110, 144, 159, 160, 164, 172, 182, 189, 203, 208, 209

AU 27, 28–29, 75, 103, 108, 111, 116, 123, 214–222

Finance Directorate 45, 58, 103, 104

Financial Control Unit 104financial institutions 7, 25, 39, 67, 104, 144–145, 153, 159, 197, 206–207, 208

First Ten-Year Implementation Plan (FTYIP) 21, 46

fisheries 185

Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 185, 186, 188, 205, 212

food security 70, 105, 162, 172, 185, 187, 206, 209

Forum on China–Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 210

free movement 23, 153, 156, 162, 168

Friends of the Panel of the Wise 81

Fund for African Women (FAW) 171–172

G

G5 Sahel Joint Force 89

Gambia 88

gas 105, 183

gender 24, 39, 79, 82, 161, 206equality 7, 42, 71, 108, 123, 126, 127, 171, 203

representation 94, 95, 131, 133, 136, 175

261

Ind

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Gender Architecture 82

General Convention on Privileges and Immunities 99

Geneva Office (of the AUC) 111

genocide 24, 74

governance 62, 75, 84, 98, 107, 148, 152, 172, 175, 203, 206, 210

good 7, 9, 15, 16, 21, 69, 74, 106, 120, 126, 160, 165, 198

Grand Inga Dam Project 24Great Lakes Region 116, 164–165, 212

Great Museum of Africa 10, 25growth 21, 23, 29, 106, 168, 208

economic 7, 21, 25, 27, 108, 110, 144, 148, 210

sustainable 8, 155

H

headquarters agreements 55, 99, 100, 145

health 7, 15, 39, 42, 68, 100, 104, 107, 123, 161, 162, 172, 173, 175, 193–194, 211

animal 185, 188

Health, Humanitarian Affairs and Social Affairs (HHS), Department of 107, 195

heritage 8, 10, 11, 21, 25, 40, 195

High-Level Committee of Heads of State and Government on Libya 38, 39

High-Level Committee on African Trade (HATC) 36–37

High Representatives of the Chairperson of the AU Commission 84, 88, 115–116

history, African 21, 26, 195

HIV/AIDS 172, 194

host countries 22, 25, 29, 33, 35, 42, 55, 91, 126, 136, 170, 174, 175, 176, 184, 186, 197, 211

agreements 55, 99

human resources 102, 103, 108, 123, 155, 175

Human Resources Management Directorate (HRMD) 102

human rights 15, 16, 21, 62, 71, 74, 75, 79, 88, 106, 107, 120, 124, 126, 130–135, 141, 198

Humanitarian Policy Framework 72

humanitarian support/assistance 42, 72, 74, 85, 87, 88, 96, 107, 116, 165, 171

humanities 175

Hybrid Court for South Sudan 218

I

identity 21, 154, 195

IGAD 19, 78, 81, 152, 162–163immigration 23, 123

immunities 55, 99, 124

industry 22, 71, 96, 105, 124, 168, 178, 179, 198, 210, 211

Information and Communication Directorate (ICD) 8, 14, 101

information communications technology (ICT) 22, 69, 106, 109, 180, 211

infrastructure 7, 24, 69, 72, 96, 103, 106, 109, 115, 124, 144, 161, 177–183, 206, 208, 211

Infrastructure and Energy (IE), Department of 106, 183

Initiative for the Adaptation of African Agriculture (AAA) 36

innovation 7, 22, 23, 96, 105–106, 109, 110, 173, 174, 175, 176, 187, 203

Institute of Economic Development and Planning (IDEP) 203

institutional capacity 27, 84, 187, 199

institutional reform 9, 27–28, 32, 33, 38, 39, 42, 50, 60, 84, 94, 98, 102, 104, 110, 153

Instrument Relating to the Enhanced Governance and Management Structure of the Peace Fund 28, 84

insurance 104, 155, 189–190

integration 8, 16, 21, 23, 67, 69, 108, 145, 156, 160, 169, 175, 195, 196

economic 15, 18, 25, 29, 54, 105, 110, 120, 144, 145, 148, 152, 156, 158, 195

political 15, 39, 156, 157, 195regional 18, 109, 110, 136, 144, 152, 153, 155, 159, 160, 163, 165, 199, 202, 203, 206

socio-economic 15, 50, 107

intelligence 70, 101, 102, 190, 191

Intelligence and Security Committee (ISC) 191

Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) 19, 78, 81, 152, 162–163

internally displaced persons (IDPs) 40, 58, 72

International Air Transport Association (IATA) 179

262 International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) 177

International Conference on the Great Lakes Region (ICGLR) 164–165, 212

International Court of Justice (ICJ) 99

International Criminal Court (ICC) 47, 99

International Criminal Police Organization (INTERPOL) 102, 193, 212

International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) 205, 212

International Labour Organization (ILO) 205

international law 68, 99, 135–136 humanitarian 72, 74

International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) 185

International Monetary Fund (IMF) 205

International Organization for Migration (IOM) 197, 205

International Scientific Council of Trypanosomiasis Research and Control (ISCTRC) 186, 189

International Telecommunication Union (ITU) 180, 205

interpretation services 103

investment 7, 8, 24, 39, 69, 105, 123, 144, 155, 158, 162, 168, 199, 206, 208, 210, 211

J

Joint African Union Commission/ Association of African Central Banks (AACB) Strategy 144

Joint Secretariat Support Office of UNECA, AUC and AfDB 203, 212

Joint UN–AU Framework for Enhanced Partnership in Peace and Security 202, 205

judges 133, 134, 154

judicial, human rights and legal organs and bodies 130–141, 156, 158, 159, 161

justice 21, 68, 99, 106, 124, 134–135, 153social 198, 210

L

labour 67, 107, 123, 170

Lagos Plan of Action 59, 152

Lagos Treaty (ECOWAS Treaty) 160, 161

languages 17, 98, 107, 195, 196

law 121, 124 humanitarian 58, 72, 74 rule of 21, 74, 75, 88, 106, 120, 126 see also international law

League of Arab States 112, 209, 212

Legal Aid Fund for the African Union Human Rights Organs 141

legal instruments 16, 25, 68, 71, 94, 95, 99, 110, 135, 144, 152, 236–240

legal services 99

Libya 38, 39, 113, 115

livestock 163, 185, 188

loans 59, 207

Lord’s Resistance Army (LRA) 89

Lusaka Declaration 155

M

Malabo Declaration 70, 211

malaria 40, 194, 195

Mali 90, 114, 115

Management of Information Systems Division (MIS) 103

Maputo Protocol 135

maritime issues 39, 106

Marrakesh Treaty 153, 154

media 69, 101, 211

mediation 80, 81, 82, 84, 107, 115, 205

Medical and Health Services Directorate (MHSD) 104

meeting services 50, 57, 61, 95, 98, 103, 122

migration 39, 72, 107, 154

Military Staff Committee 77–78, 79, 86

minerals 71, 184

mining 22, 71, 96, 105, 184

Ministerial Committee on Candidatures within the International System 44, 107

Ministerial Committee on the Challenges of Ratification/Accession and Implementation of the OAU/AU Treaties 45

Ministerial Committee on the Scale of Assessment and Contributions 45–46, 104

Ministerial Follow-up Committee on the Implementation of Agenda 2063 46–47

Mo Ibrahim Foundation 149

monetary affairs 67, 105, 123, 144, 145, 155, 158, 161, 197

263

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Multinational Joint Task Force (MNJTF) against Boko Haram 88–89, 219

N

national human rights institutions (NHRIs) 131

natural disasters, responses to 58, 70, 74, 105, 162, 173, 189, 193

natural resources 105, 124, 155, 162, 187, 203

NEPAD Agency see African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

Network of African Women in Conflict Prevention and Mediation (FemWise-Africa) 79, 82

New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 110, 148, 202

Sub-Committee (of the PRC) 56–57 see also African Union Development Agency (AUDA-NEPAD)

New York Office (of the AUC) 111

Nigeria Trust Fund (NTF) 207

non-governmental organisations (NGOs) 20, 58, 83, 127, 131, 133

non-tariff barriers (NTBs) 23, 29

North African Regional Capability (NARC) 85, 86, 152, 166

North African Standby Force 85, 166

nuclear energy 183–184

nutrition 39, 70, 105, 107, 185

O

Office for Safety and Security Services 103Office of Internal Audit (OIA) 53

Office of Internal Oversight (OIO) 53, 97–98Office of Protocol 100, 212

Office of Strategic Planning and Delivery (OSPD) 58, 97

Office of the Director-General 13, 97Office of the Legal Counsel (OLC) 55, 99, 136

Office of the Secretary to the (AU) Commission (OSC) 98

Office of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) 205

oil 78, 105, 183

older people 67

Open-ended Ministerial Committee on the International Criminal Court (ICC) 47

Operations Support Services Directorate (OSSD) 103

Organisation of African, Caribbean and Pacific States (OACPS) 209

Organization of African Unity (OAU), history of 16

P

Pan African Cultural Institute 68

Pan African Institute for Education for Development (IPED)/African Observatory for Education 106, 176–177, 217

Pan African Postal Union (PAPU) 181–182Pan African Stock Exchange 25, 144

Pan African Training Centre on Statistics 170, 218

Pan African Tsetse and Trypanosomiasis Eradication Campaign (PATTEC) 105, 185, 188–189

Pan African University (PAU) 22, 106, 175–176, 217

Pan African Veterinary Vaccine Centre (PANVAC) 105, 185, 188

Pan African Virtual and e-University (PAVeU) 22, 106, 176

Pan African Women’s Organization (PAWO) 200

Pan-African e-Network (PAeN) 24Pan-African Network of the Wise (PanWise) 81

Pan-African Parliament (PAP) 27, 75, 120–124, 216

Bureau 122, 123, 124caucuses 122, 124Permanent Committees 122, 123–124

Pan-African payment and settlement system 23, 29

Panel of the Wise 75, 79–81, 82

partners 7, 28, 42, 99, 100, 102, 109, 149, 164, 170, 199

development 111, 171, 197international 15, 71, 72, 84, 87, 88–89, 102, 107, 185, 192, 215

Partnerships Management and Resource Mobilisation Directorate (PMRM) 100

264 partnerships 56, 78, 79, 100, 104, 108, 126, 199, 202–212

non-African states and organisations accredited to the AU 212

United Nations 202–205peace 7, 9, 15, 16, 32, 120, 165, 172, 192, 204–205, 210, 211

support 28, 38, 74, 84, 86–90, 104, 214, 215, 219

work of AUC 9, 96, 104, 106–107, 115work of Regional Economic Communities 152, 153, 154, 155, 159, 160, 162, 163, 164

see also Peace and Security Council (PSC)

Peace and Security Council (PSC) 17, 24, 27, 32, 38, 74–91, 184, 205, 216

chair 75, 76high-level panels 78members 75, 76–77other related bodies 90–91peace support operations 86–90subsidiary bodies 77–78

Peace and Security Department (PSD) 75, 79, 82, 90, 112, 192

see also Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Department of

Peace Fund 28, 29, 75, 79, 84, 87, 101AUC High Representative for 84, 115Secretariat 101

peoples’ rights 15, 124, 130–134

Permanent Delegation to the League of Arab States – Cairo Office (of the AUC) 112

Permanent Mission to the European Union (EU) and African, Caribbean and Pacific (ACP) states – Brussels Office (of the AUC) 112

Permanent Representatives Committee (PRC) 17, 42, 43, 50–63, 95, 98, 99, 116, 214

sub-committees 25, 45, 52–63, 99, 102, 214

phytosanitary activities 186

plant protection 186

police 70, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 102, 193

Policy Framework for the Sustainable Development of Sport in Africa 68

Policy Framework on Security Sector Reform 70

Policy Framework on the Establishment of the African Standby Force 86

Policy on Post-Conflict Reconstruction and Development (PCRD) 40

Policy on Post-Conflict Stabilisation 70

Policy Sub-Committee of the Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine Relief in Africa 59–60

political affairs 96, 106–107, 204, 205

Political Affairs, Peace and Security (PAPS), Department of 75, 79, 82, 83, 87, 90, 101, 106–107, 192

population 30, 68, 72, 159

post-graduates 175

postal services 106, 181–182

poverty, responses to 67, 70, 110, 163, 171, 172, 203, 206, 207

PRC see Permanent Representatives Committee

private sector 9, 22, 23, 59, 84, 100, 105, 106, 108, 111, 144, 180, 185, 197, 203, 206, 208, 209

privileges 55, 81, 99

Protocol on Amendments to the Constitutive Act of the African Union 15, 233–235

Protocol on Amendments to the Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights 135

Protocol on Relations between the RECs and the AU 152, 153

Protocol on the Free Movement of Persons, Right to Residence and Right of Establishment in Africa, draft 23

Protocol on the Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights 134

Protocol Relating to the Establishment of the Peace and Security Council (PSC Protocol) 74, 79, 83, 84, 86, 152

Protocol to the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Rights of Women in Africa (Maputo Protocol) 135

Protocol to the Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights on the Establishment of an African Court on Human and Peoples’ Rights 132, 133, 134

Protocol to the Constitutive Act of the African Union Relating to the Pan-African Parliament 120–122

Protocol to the Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty) Relating to the Pan-African Parliament 120, 121

265

Ind

ex

PSC see Peace and Security Council

public health 101, 193–194

public sector 59, 69, 138, 144, 180, 199, 203, 206, 208

publications 103, 110, 135, 192

Q

Quality Assurance and Control Division 98

R

reconciliation 78, 87

reconstruction, post-conflict 38, 40, 69, 79, 87, 91, 107, 218

Reform Troika 27, 33

refugees 40, 58, 72

Regional Collaborating Centres (RCCs) 194

Regional Cooperation Initiative for the Elimination of the Lord’s Resistance Army (RCI-LRA) 89

Regional Coordination Mechanism (RCM) 202, 203

Regional Economic Communities (RECs) 7, 15, 18–19, 24, 67, 81, 100, 109, 111, 120, 152–166, 168, 171, 199

Committee of Secretariat Officials 153Committee on Coordination 153coordination and collaboration with 9, 27, 33, 42, 58, 66, 75, 79, 82, 94, 95, 102, 106, 153, 192, 203

membership of other bodies 22, 36, 38, 47, 81, 83, 85–86, 183, 185, 186, 192

regional groups 18, 51

Regional Mechanisms (RMs) 27, 33, 74, 75, 79, 81, 82, 83, 106, 152, 153, 164–166

remittances 107, 197

Renewed UN–AU Partnership on Africa’s Integration and Development Agenda (PAIDA) 202

research 15, 82, 83, 154, 159, 172–173, 175, 176, 177, 179, 182, 184, 187, 188, 192, 195, 203

AUC 97, 105, 106, 107, 109, 110

Reserve Fund 104

resource mobilisation 9, 25, 56, 59, 69, 71, 84, 100, 108, 109, 141, 144, 162, 171, 172, 173, 189, 194

returnees 40, 58

rights 124, 139–140, 153, 171see also human rights

rural development see development

rural economy and agriculture bodies 185–190

see also economy

S

SADC 19, 81, 85, 86, 113, 152, 163–164Sahel Climate Commission 36

Sahel countries 38, 89, 114, 115

sanctions 74, 104

scale of assessment 28, 45, 104, 116, 117, 220–222

schools 170

science 15, 22, 23, 36, 70–71, 96, 105–106, 110, 124, 156, 171, 172–174, 175, 183, 199

Science, Technology and Innovation Strategy for Africa (STISA-2024) 37, 71, 172–173

Scientific, Technical and Research Commission (STRC) 106, 172–173

Secretariat to the Board of External Auditors (SBoEA) 104

security 7, 9, 15, 16, 24, 76, 78, 79, 80, 83, 84, 172, 192

bodies and mechanisms 32, 70, 74–91, 120, 152, 159, 190–193, 202, 204–205, 210, 211

work of AUC 96, 102, 103, 106–107, 115–116

work of Regional Economic Communities 152, 154, 155, 157, 159, 163, 164, 165

see also African Peace and Security Architecture; cybersecurity; food security; Peace and Security Council

Semi-Arid Food Grain Research and Development (SAFGRAD) 105, 187

Senegal 135

Silencing the Guns 7, 9, 24, 34, 78, 115, 241

Single African Air Transport Market (SAATM) 25, 39, 72, 177

Sirte Declaration (1999) 16, 120, 144

Sirte Declaration (2005) 35

social affairs 42, 96, 101, 105, 106, 107, 123, 156, 162, 165, 203

bodies 193–198social sciences 175, 195

266 social/socio-economic development see development

Solemn Declaration on Gender Equality in Africa (SDGEA) 172

Somalia 87–88, 114, 163

South Sudan 78, 114, 163

Southern African Development Community (SADC) 19, 81, 85, 86, 113, 152, 163–164

sovereignty 15, 16, 74

space 24–25, 105–106, 175

Special Emergency Assistance Fund for Drought and Famine Relief in Africa 59

Special Envoys of the Chairperson of the AU Commission 115

specialised and technical agencies, treaty bodies and other institutions 168–200

Specialised Technical Committees (STCs) 17, 42, 66–72, 98, 99, 122

on Agriculture, Rural Development, Water and Environment 70, 186

on Communication and Information Communications Technology (ICT) 69

on Defence, Safety and Security (STCDSS) 67, 70, 85, 86, 90

on Education, Science and Technology 70–71

on Finance, Monetary Affairs, Economic Planning and Integration 67, 204

on Gender Equality and Women’s Empowerment 67, 71–72, 172

on Health, Population and Drug Control 68, 194

on Justice and Legal Affairs 67, 68, 99, 149

on Migration, Refugees and Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) 72

on Public Service, Local Government, Urban Development and Decentralization 69

on Social Development, Labour and Employment 67

on Trade, Industry and Minerals 71on Transport, Transcontinental and Interregional Infrastructure, Energy and Tourism (STC-TTIIET) 72, 183

on Youth, Culture and Sports 25, 68–69, 196, 198

sport 68, 161, 198

stability 7, 9, 15, 16, 74, 76, 78, 79, 83, 87, 88, 106, 120, 148, 155, 157, 162, 163, 192

economic 159, 160

staff 17, 22, 55, 82, 91, 94, 95, 99, 102, 104, 122, 131, 136, 139, 174, 175, 180, 185, 191, 193, 214

military 70, 77–78, 88

Standards and Trade Secretariat for Animal Health and Food Safety 186

statistics 110, 169–170, 174, 177, 197, 203

Statute of the African Court of Justice and Human Rights 135

Statute of the African Space Agency 25

Statute on the Establishment of the Legal Aid Fund of the AU Human Rights Organs 141

STCs 66–72see also Specialised Technical Committees

strategic planning 56, 95, 97, 168, 185, 186

Sub-Committees (of the PRC) Drafting 62of the Whole on Multilateral Cooperation 56 on Audit Matters 53–54on Budget Matters 63on Economic and Trade Matters 54on Environmental Issues 62–63on General Supervision and Coordination on Budgetary, Financial and Administrative Matters 52–53, 57, 63, 104, 214

on Headquarters and Host Agreements 55on Human Rights, Democracy and Governance 62

on the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) 56–57, 102

on Programmes and Conferences 57–58on Refugees, Returnees and Internally Displaced Persons in Africa 58–59

on Rules, Standards and Credentials 61on Structural Reforms 60–61

Sub-Regional Security Arrangements 88–89Sudan 78, 89, 90, 114, 115, 116

sustainable development see development

Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) 71, 97, 148, 195, 206

T

tariffs 23, 29

technical and vocational education and training (TVET) 37, 68, 70

technical assistance/support 83, 101, 103, 104, 107, 109, 116, 144, 164, 189, 197, 199, 207

267

Ind

ex

technology 7, 15, 22, 23, 26, 36, 70–71, 124, 171, 172–174, 175, 187, 203, 206

AUC 96, 103, 105–106, 109, 110 see also information communications technology

telecommunications 156, 180–181terrorism, responses to 39, 70, 74, 86, 88–89, 107, 116, 154, 161, 163, 192

Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD) 210–211

tourism 72, 106, 123, 211

trade 15, 42, 54, 71, 123, 144, 145, 155, 156, 158, 162, 168–169, 182, 199, 203, 209, 210, 211

AUC 96, 105 intra-African 8, 9, 23, 29–30, 36, 70, 105, 108, 168

see also African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA)

training 82, 83, 106, 170, 175, 176, 188, 192, 199, 203

translation services 103

transport 21–22, 25, 39, 72, 103, 106, 124, 156, 162, 211

air 25, 39, 72, 177–179

treaties 45, 68, 74, 95, 99, 100, 123, 135, 236–240

Treaty Establishing the African Economic Community (Abuja Treaty) 16, 18, 66, 120, 144, 145, 152, 153

Treaty Establishing the Common Market for Eastern and Southern Africa (COMESA) 155, 156

Treaty Establishing the Community of Sahel–Saharan States (CEN–SAD) 156

Treaty Establishing the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS) 159

Treaty for the Establishment of the East African Community (EAC) 158

Treaty of Pelindaba 183, 184

trypanosomiasis eradication 105, 188, 189

tsetse eradication 105, 185, 188–189tuberculosis (TB) 194–195

U

UMA 18, 152, 153–154UN Capital Development Fund (UNCDF) 205

UN Charter 15, 86

UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) 205, 212

UN Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) 205

UN Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) 205

UN Development Coordination Office (UNDCO) 205

UN Development Programme (UNDP) 111, 149, 205, 206, 211

UN Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) 202, 203

UN Economic Commission for Africa (UNECA) 22, 36, 42, 67, 111, 149, 153, 183, 202–204, 205, 206

UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) 171, 195, 205

UN Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN-Women) 205, 212

UN Environment Programme (UNEP) 205

UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) 185, 186, 188, 205, 212

UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) 205, 212

UN Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) 205

UN Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) 205, 212

UN Joint Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) 205, 212

UN liaison and representational offices (in Addis Ababa) 205

UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in Mali (MINUSMA) 90

UN Multidimensional Integrated Stabilization Mission in the Central African Republic (MINUSCA) 89

UN Office for Disaster Risk Reduction (UNDRR) 205

UN Office for Project Services (UNOPS) 205

UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (UNOCHA) 205, 212

UN Office of the Special Adviser on Africa (UNOSAA) 111, 211

UN Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) 102, 205

UN Office to the African Union (UNOAU) 202, 204–205, 212

UN partnerships 202–205

268 UN Population Fund (UNFPA) 205, 212

UN Resident Coordinator Office (UNRCO) 205

UN Secretary-General 38, 116, 202

UN Security Council 35, 40, 75, 86, 87, 89, 90, 205

Universal Declaration of Human Rights 15

Universal Postal Union (UPU) 205

universities 22, 106, 154, 175–176, 195

V

vaccination 7, 9, 188

veterinary services and bodies 163, 185, 188vulnerable groups 7, 67

W

war crimes 74

Washington DC Office (of the AUC) 111

water 70, 109, 161, 173, 175, 187, 211

women 7, 9, 21, 71, 82, 100, 108, 110, 115, 171–172, 173, 185, 199, 203

representation of 15, 17, 24, 27, 121, 122, 200

see also gender

Women, Gender and Youth Directorate (WGYD) 100

World Bank 197, 205, 211

World Energy Council (WEC) 183

World Food Programme (WFP) 190, 205, 212

World Health Organization (WHO) 194, 205, 212

World Meteorological Organization (WMO) 205

World Organisation for Animal Health (OIE) 185, 188, 194

World Trade Organization (WTO) 30

Y

Yamoussoukro Decision 25, 177, 178

youth 7, 9, 21, 24, 25, 27, 39, 68, 79, 100, 108, 115, 122, 123, 161, 171, 185, 199

Youth Volunteer Corps 68

African Union HeadquartersPO Box 3243, Roosevelt Street(Old Airport Area)W21K19, Addis Ababa, EthiopiaT : +251 [0] 115 517 700www.au.int

E ngā tini, e ngā mano, koutou katoa tēnā koutou!To the many gathered here, greetings to you all.

New Zealand is delighted to again partner with the African Union Commission to produce an updated edition of the African Union Handbook.

The African Union theme for 2021 is Arts, Culture and Heritage: Levers for Building the Africa We Want. This is a relevant theme as we consider opportunities to connect people and their communities.

Aotearoa New Zealand is increasingly more diverse, and this is a positive signal of how as a young nation we continue to grow and learn from our multicultural communities. This rich diversity can be celebrated because our founding document the Treaty of Waitangi acknowledges tangata whenua (people of the land) and the importance of values, language, culture, customs and practices.

We are better for it when we learn about other peoples, countries, cultures and languages, and I am pleased to support this resource.

Hon. Nanaia MahutaNEW ZEALAND MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS / TE MINITA O TE MANATŪ AORERE